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Samantha Hayes ReportingJay-walking is not the sort of crime that usually gets someone in a lot of trouble, but when police officers in West Jordan stopped a man for doing that, they found out something else. That man is still loose tonight. Police say he ran away from West Jordan officers-because he is wanted in California for another crime.
The man police are looking for is Tim J. Milne, 25-years old. West Jordan says he apparently violated his parole, stemming from a sex offense in California. Comes at a time when national laws are making it tougher for convicted sex offenders to move around.
Tim J. Milne may be pretty good at running away and hiding. He was nowhere to be found inside the West Jordan WalMart.
Sgt. Gret Butler, West Jordan Police: "The suspect ran, ran into WalMart store. We contained it, searched but we have been unable to locate hime."
He ran off after police stopped him and another person for jay-walking. Officers researched his name and discovered he is wanted in California for a sex offense. The 25-year old was a fugitive from California in February too, that's what local court records show.
It's unknown whether Milne is a convicted sex offender, but for law enforcement agencies all over the country a new law gives officers more power to ultimately keep sex offenders from blending in.
The Adam Walsh Child Protection Safety Act, recently signed by President Bush, makes it a violation of federal law if a sex offender moves and fails to register a new address.
President George Bush: "Protect those who cannot protect themselves."
Just this week Utah made the first arrest under the new law when convicted sex offender John Henry Gill was taken into custody for failing to register after moving from Idaho to Utah.
Again, Milne is considered high risk out of California. Local officers believe he is dangerous. He is described as 5' 9'', 190 pounds.
