Fugitive wanted on rape charges in Tennessee is arrested in Ketchikan, U.S. Marshals say

A Tennessee fugitive who was accused of rape and fled to Alaska was arrested in Ketchikan on Saturday, U.S. Marshals say.

Michael Shane Vaughan, 46, was arrested with the help of the Ketchikan Police Department early Saturday, Deputy U.S. Marshal Christian Marrero said in an emailed statement.

Vaughan was wanted by the Metropolitan Nashville Police Department on two counts of rape, according to the U.S. Marshals Service. He was last seen in Nashville in September of last year after the incident, U.S. Marshals said.

On Friday, the U.S. Marshals Middle Tennessee Fugitive Task Force asked for the public’s help in locating Vaughan, saying he may be in Alaska because he previously told relatives he would flee to the state, where he has ties and previously live.

It’s unclear how police learned Vaughan was in Ketchikan or what he was doing in Southeast Alaska.

Marrero didn’t immediately respond to questions on Saturday morning about the arrest and what led to it.

Vaughan was jailed at the Ketchikan Correctional Center as of Saturday morning, according to an online jail roster.

U.S. Marshals said he would remain in custody until extradited to Tennessee.