Fugitive sex offender captured at Hempfest

SEATTLE -- A registered sex offender wanted by police in Idaho was captured at Seattle's Myrtle Edwards Park on the eve of Hempfest, just moments after being interviewed by a KOMO News crew.

Ferrell David Arnold, 32, was being held on a $100,000 bond for Forgery and Grand Theft Charges in Couer D'Alene. On Wednesday, Ferrell was granted a 24-hour furlough by the court, but failed to report to jail on Thursday evening as scheduled. Police put a warrant out for his arrest.

Officers swarmed the park after receiving a tip he was hiding out there, but couldn't find him among the 100 or so people setting up for the festival.

While our news crew was there covering the search, we recognized the man who we thought might be Arnold. We asked him and his friends some general Hempfest questions, and they didn't seem fazed by the officers riding by in the background.

We asked Arnold: "What are you most looking forward to?"

He answered: "Meeting some new people. Different life."

We asked him his name, and he told us it was David Arnos and that he lived in northern Idaho. Investigators say his name is actually Ferrell David Arnold.

Just after the brief interview finished, we flagged down two officers and told them we thought we spotted the wanted fugitive. Officers swooped in and arrested Arnold after confirming that was who they were looking for.

Arnold was questioned and then placed into the back of a police squad car.

Sgt. D.J. Hall with the Kootenai County Sheriff's Department later confirmed to KOMO News that Arnold was in custody and would soon be extradited back to Idaho.

Investigators also say Arnold is also now suspected of stealing a car from Eastern Washington that was recovered near the scene in Seattle.