PROVIDENCE, R.I. — The man accused of shooting three people to death in Puerto Rico in 2014 and now being sought by law enforcement in Rhode Island fled to the Ocean State after jumping bail, federal authorities say.

Pedro J. Torres, 36, is wanted in Puerto Rico in connection with the murder of three people in 2014 in Ponce, a city on the island's southern coast, authorities said Monday.

U.S. Marshals were alerted Aug. 19 that a warrant was issued for Torres in Puerto Rico and that he might be in Rhode Island after he was released on bail and failed to show up for a scheduled date, U.S. Marshal Jamie A. Hainsworth said.

"Somehow he gets released," Hainsworth said, exasperated.

Authorities in Rhode Island arrested Torres on the same charges in July 2015 and extradited him to Puerto Rico after police there issued a nationwide warrant for him for homicide on Aug. 6, 2014, according to police.

At that time, law enforcement in Rhode Island issued a Superior Court warrant for failing to appear on a charge of being a fugitive in possession of a firearm after they allegedly found a stolen Glock pistol, crack cocaine and illegal prescription pills in his Providence apartment, authorities said.

Rhode Island State Police Maj. Joseph F. Philbin noted Monday that authorities in Puerto Rico should have been flagged before Torres' release that there was a warrant for him in Rhode Island and turned him over to the state's custody.

Philbin said 20 to 25 law-enforcement agents are actively searching for Torres, who has a girlfriend and baby daughter in Providence. He said that Friday's sighting of Torres in downtown Providence followed the same pattern as last year, when Torres fled after being located by law enforcement and was captured a month later as he visited his girlfriend.

Authorities warn that Torres is considered armed, dangerous and potentially desperate. They urge the public to take precautions.

"We believe he's still in the area," Hainsworth said. "We're working on it, and we won't stop. ... It's not just a probation violation. It's three murders. That's just about as violent as you can get."

Philbin agreed. "He's about as dangerous a person as you can see. He's a career criminal," Philbin said. "On a scale of 1 to 10, he's a 10."

Torres was wearing a dark T-shirt, work boots and shorts when last seen around 1:15 p.m. Friday, near the Providence Marriott Downtown hotel and the state Department of Health building, on Orms Street, authorities said. Anyone with information about his whereabouts should not approach him and should call 911, the state police Lincoln barracks at (401) 444-1100, or the U.S. Marshals at 528-5200.

Court records in Rhode Island show that Torres has faced multiple charges here. In 2003, he admitted to carrying a pistol without a license and received a 10-year suspended sentence with probation. He violated his probation on that charge in 2005 and served 66 months in prison, according to Amy Kempe, spokeswoman for the attorney general's office. He received a four-year suspended sentence a year earlier for felony assault. His other convictions include three counts of driving with a suspended license, two of possession of marijuana and one of obstruction of a police officer.

An inspector reached in Puerto Rico refused to comment on the specifics of the case, saying the investigation is ongoing.

— kmulvane@providencejournal.com

(401) 277-7417

On Twitter: @kmulvane