U.S. Marshals arrest two wanted men

PENSACOLA, Fla. (WALA) - The U.S. Marshal's Florida Regional Fugitive Task Force says they've arrested two wanted men in Pensacola. Authorities say one of the men was hiding under bed sheets and the other was trying to hide drugs at the time.

Authorities say the first arrest was made around 3 p. m. on Oct. 18, when Task Force members from the U.S. Marshals, Escambia County Sheriff's Office, a K-9 unit and special agents from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms apprehended Robert Rufus Ball Jr., 29, who was wanted for Failure to Register as a Convicted Sex Offender.

Investigators say Task Force members saw Bell run inside a home as they were approaching the 900 block of Belair Road. They say when they went to the home, Bell would not open the door.

Authorities say when officers went inside, they found Ball trying to hide a plastic shopping bag of marijuana in a toilet tank. They say when officers ordered Bell to yield, he refused and they discovered he was trying to swallow crack cocaine.

Officers say they were able to prevent him from doing that and arrested him.

Ball faces new charges of Possession of Cocaine with Intent to Distribute, Possession of Marijuana more than 20 grams and Resisting Arrest without Violence.

Approximately 63 grams of marijuana was found with a said street value of over $500 and 9.3 grams of crack cocaine worth about $900. Ball was taken to the Escambia County Jail and held on no bond as well.

Second Arrest

Task Force members made the second arrest the following day, Oct. 19. Authorities say they apprehended Mario Deoandre Copeland, 27, who has an extensive criminal history, while he was hiding at a home in the 400 block of Action Road.

Authorities determined that Copeland was in the home around 2 p. m., and Task Force Officers from Escambia, Santa Rosa and Okaloosa Sheriff’s Office knocked on the front door and called to Copeland to come out.

Officers say they saw someone inside that wouldn’t open the door. After knocking several more times, authorities had to breach the door of the home. They arrested Copeland after he tried to run out of the home.

The Escambia County TAC Unit, K9 and Air Unit also helped in Copeland’s arrest.

Investigators say Copeland is wanted in Escambia County for Felon in Possession of a Weapon, Fleeing/Eluding and Probation Violation for Possession of Cocaine.

Authorities say Copeland is one of several suspects who allegedly ran from law enforcement after a felony car stop back in late August.

Task Force members say they found .45 Caliber handgun in the front seat of a vehicle at the residence.

A 100 round magazine for an AK-47 assault rifle was also found in the woods in which he ran to.

Authorities say they had received information that Copeland supposedly made statements that he was going to shoot an officer.

Copeland is in Escambia County jail being held without bond.