Man wanted in Iowa sex abuse cases arrested in Chicago

A man wanted on sexual abuse charges in Johnson and Mitchel counties was arrested Thursday in Chicago by U.S. marshals.

Yaniv Azriel, 27, was arrested on warrants from the Mitchell County Sheriff’s Office and the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation, according to a U.S. Marshals Service news release.

In January, Mitchell County in north-central Iowa issued three warrants for Azriel’s arrest on third-degree sexual abuse charges.

In February, the Iowa DCI issued three additional warrants for Azriel on third-degree sexual abuse charges related to a Johnson County case.

On March 10, the Mitchell County Sheriff’s Office contacted the U.S. Marshals Northern Iowa Fugitive Task Force to request assistance in apprehending Azriel.

The marshals, working with the Great Lakes Fugitive Task Force, located Azriel in the 100 block of South Wacker Drive in Chicago.

Azriel was taken into custody Thursday and is jailed, awaiting extradition to Iowa, the marshals service said in the news release.

No criminal complaints, which detail allegations against suspects, are filed against Azriel.

Assistant Johnson County Attorney Rachel Zimmermann Smith said Thursday the complaint won’t be filed until Azriel makes an initial appearance in Johnson County District Court.

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