A Slovak fugitive who had reportedly been on the run for more than a decade was arrested in Italy after traveling to support his national ice hockey team at the Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics.
According to The Associated Press, the 44-year-old man—whose identity has not been publicly released—was wanted by Italian authorities in connection with multiple thefts committed in 2010. He had managed to evade law enforcement for nearly 16 years before being taken into custody this week.
Automatic Alert Leads to Arrest
The fugitive was apprehended on Wednesday after checking into a campsite located outside of Milan. Authorities were alerted through an automated system at the campsite’s reception desk, which flagged his identity.
The alert immediately notified law enforcement officials, who moved quickly to detain him. He was later transported to San Vittore Prison, where he will serve a pending sentence of 11 months and seven days.
Missed Olympic Match After Arrest
As a result of his arrest, the fugitive was unable to attend the highly anticipated opening hockey match, where Slovakia defeated Finland 4–1 at the Santagiulia Arena.
The game marked a major moment for Slovak fans at the Winter Games, making the timing of the arrest especially notable. Authorities confirmed that he was taken into custody before he could enter the arena.
