How authorities tracked down the masked man accused of terrorizing Philadelphia residents
Investigators said Hughes was initially staying with a girlfriend but changed locations after his photo was released.
PHILADLEPHIA (WPVI) -- The masked man accused of terrorizing more than a dozen Philadelphians is behind bars where he lives in Las Vegas, after he allegedly committed the acts during a temporary stay in Philadelphia, officials said.
The U.S. Marshals Service said deputies arrested 22-year-old Zymire Hughes at 8 p.m. Tuesday at an apartment complex on the 6500 block of Boulder Highway in southeast Las Vegas.
Investigators said Hughes had been living in Las Vegas since February.
"He was not a happy man being brought into custody," said Robert Clark, U.S. Marshals Supervisory Deputy.
Marshals released a blurred photo, per protocol, of Hughes in handcuffs after he was arrested on a warrant for a number of charges.
"He actually tried to get out of the handcuffs and had to be subdued by deputy marshals," Clark said.
Authorities said Hughes appeared confused about his arrest when he was taken into custody.
Hughes is accused of making threats, chasing and harassing at least 15 people during the early morning hours of August 12, near Philadelphia City Hall, while wearing a Chucky-style Halloween mask.
Officials said he was in the city for several weeks, where he has family.
Some residents, like Jameka, showed Action News how she said she kicked him in the chest, and has since become an internet sensation for her no-nonsense approach.
RELATED: 'I was going to fight': Woman recalls creepy encounter with man wearing Chucky mask in Philadelphia
During the search, Philadelphia officials released a previous mug shot of Hughes with a warning that harassment will not be tolerated.
The U.S. Marshals then tracked his flights back to Vegas.
"Pretty much everything stopped for him once he left Philadelphia. Once he was on the news, he hunkered down for five days," Clark said.
Investigators said Hughes fled Philadelphia on Aug. 19, first flying from Trenton-Mercer Airport to Orlando, Florida. Authorities said he later flew from Orlando to Harry Reid International Airport in Las Vegas.
"We've actually worked on this since last Friday. They worked through the weekend. And we just tried to narrow things down to a point today where everything came together," said Clark.
Investigators said they monitored his movements during that five-day period and that Hughes was initially staying with a girlfriend, but changed locations after his photo was released.
"I can tell you our deputy marshals and our task force officers were extremely happy because it's 106 out there in Las Vegas," Clark said "You can hide your face but you can't hide from the elite investigators of the U.S. Marshals service."
WATCH FULL: US Marshals announce arrest of suspect wanted for terrorizing Philadelphians
Hughes is currently locked up at the Clark County Detention Center and will be extradited from Vegas to Philadelphia.
He's facing multiple charges that include aggravated assault, making terroristic threats and reckless endangerment.
