Manhunt (law enforcement)

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In law enforcement, a manhunt is an extensive and thorough search for a wanted and dangerous fugitive involving the use of police units, technology, and help from the public.

A manhunt is conducted when the suspect believed to be responsible for a serious crime is at large and is believed to be within a certain area. Any police units within reach of the area will then participate in the search, each covering parts of the area. If possible, the officers will form a perimeter around the area, guarding any and all possible escape routes from the containment.

A manhunt may have one of the following outcomes:

• The successful capture of the suspect within the area of the manhunt
• The death of the suspect within the area of the manhunt.
• Escape from the area by the suspect, followed by plans by other law enforcement agencies to search for the suspect elsewhere
• The search being called off, if police determine the chances of catching the suspect are minimal

Also, if the fugitive uses deadly force to resist law enforcement officers, they are typically authorized to respond in kind.

Fugitive manhunt agencies and organizations

• AFOSI
• Bounty hunter
• British Security Service (MI5)
  • Greater London Metropolitan Police
• Federal Bureau of Investigation
  • FBI Hostage Rescue Team
• INTERPOL
• Royal Canadian Mounted Police
• Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) Teams
• Texas Ranger Division of the Texas Department of Public Safety
• US Marshals Service
• Central Reserve Police Force
  • CoBRA

Public involvement

Sometimes, police departments conducting manhunts will solicit help from the public in locating the suspect. They will do this by broadcasting a description and other information on television, radio, and other public media, by going door to door and asking individuals if they have seen the suspect, and by placing wanted posters in public places.

When this happens, citizens are advised not to personally confront the suspect, but rather to call police and report their sightings.

One type of manhunt for which public participation is normally sought is an AMBER Alert. In an Amber Alert, the main purpose of the mission is to rescue the victim, ahead of the capture of the suspect. The public is usually given notice of an Amber Alert through additional forms of media, including highway overhead signs and text messaging.

If anyone is found aiding the suspect in any way, such as helping the suspect in hiding, or providing false information to the police about the suspect, may face legal consequences themselves, even being charged for the same crime as the suspect.

Notable manhunts

Bombing suspects

Prison escapees

Famous fictional manhunts

• The federal manhunt for George Foyet in the FBI crime drama Criminal Minds.
• The manhunt for an assassin known as The Jackal in Frederick Forsyth's novel The Day of the Jackal.
• A county manhunt for John Rambo in First Blood (1982), the first installment in the Rambo franchise.
• The cross-country manhunt for the Fox River 8 in the second season of Prison Break.
• The statewide manhunt for Dr. Richard Kimble in The Fugitive.
• The manhunt for Robert "Butch" Haynes (Kevin Costner) in Clint Eastwood's "A Perfect World" (1993).
• The cross-country manhunt for Mark Schereden in U.S. Marshals.
• The manhunt throughout California for Adrian Monk in the Monk episode "Mr. Monk Is On The Run."
• The citywide manhunt for Henry Darius in the CSI: NY episode "Manhattan Manhunt."
• The nationwide manhunt for Francis Dolarhyde in Manhunter (1986) and Red Dragon (2002).
• The international manhunt for Dr. Hannibal Lecter in both The Silence of the Lambs and Hannibal.
• The manhunt for escaped prisoner/wizard Sirius Black in the Harry Potter book Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban.
• The cross-country manhunt for notorious methamphetamine producer Heisenberg in the penultimate episodes of Breaking Bad.
• The citywide manhunt for undercover DEA agent turned vigilante Max Payne in the video game Max Payne.
• The worldwide manhunt by several different agencies for fugitive Jason Bourne in the Bourne series of movies.
• Mac and Dennis hunt Rickety Cricket in a season 4 episode of It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia.
• The FBI Fugitive Unit manhunt two couples on a killing spree in several states in the CBS drama FBI: Most Wanted.
• The citywide manhunt for Eddie Munson in the fourth season of Stranger Things.

See also

• Bounty hunter
• Deadly force
• Interpol
• List of murderers by number of victims
• Lone wolf (terrorism)
• Manhunt (military)
• Mexican drug war
• War crime

This page was last edited on 18 May 2024, at 12:55