APD arrest man wanted for 1997 Christmas murder
Published 2:19 pm Wednesday, December 18, 2024
- Athens Police Chief Anthony Pressnell, middle, poses with the members of the Athens Police Department who helped arrest 47-year-old Bernabe Roman for the 1997 murder of 21-year-old Jose Salinas Gomez Tuesday, Dec. 17.
On Sunday, Dec. 15, 2024 the Athens Police Department assisted the Immigration and Customs Enforcement Agency’s Enforcement and Removal Division — Fugitive Operation Team in the Athens area, according to a release from APD.
During the operation, information was received about 47-year-old Bernabe Roman and his location. Roman was wanted for the Dec. 25, 1997, murder of 21-year-old Jose Salinas Gomez, that occurred in the 1500 block of Wheeler Street, in Athens.
A Limestone County Grand Jury indictment warrant was issued for Roman’s arrest in February 1998. Roman has evaded capture for nearly 27 years by using a fake alias and by traveling in and out of the country, according to Athens Police Chief Anthony Pressnell.
“We don’t know how long he’s been back in Alabama, but we do suspect he’s been here for several years,” Pressnell said. “We’ve worked with ICE on several cases before, we have a very open dialogue with them and a very good relationship, but this is first murder case.”
After receiving the information, a search warrant was obtained for Roman’s residence, in the 24000 block of Bain Road, Athens. Both agencies, along with the Athens High-risk Entry and Apprehension Team, used the warrant at the residence and were able to take Roman into custody following a brief “hold and callout.”
A “hold and callout” is a tactic used by law enforcement, where the outer perimeter of a location is secured and held. The occupants of the location are then directed to exit the location in a calm and controlled manner.
According to Detective Lieutenant Jonathan Caldwell, the lead investigator on the case, Roman was arrested and taken into custody without any incidents.
The Athens Police Department thanked ICE’s Enforcement and Removal Division — Fugitive Operation Team for its assistance with the successful apprehension of Roman.
“Obviously, appearances change over the years — he was only 20 years old when he committed the murder and he’s 47 now,” Pressnell said. “There were some challenges involved, but our guys and ICE’s Enforcement and Removal Division did a great job being able to capture this person.”
