Wanted Clarion County man captured in Florida

From staff reports

A Shippenville man accused of 865 counts involving rape and related charges was taken into custody Thursday morning in Florida.

Clarion state police said Garrick Landon Bloom, 46, was apprehended about 11 a.m. a U.S. marshal in Tallahassee.

Clarion state police, the state police Fugitive Task Forces and U.S. marshals learned Bloom had traveled to Florida.

He was found in a homeless shelter and was placed into custody at the Leon County jail in Florida.

Bloom is charged with 216 counts each of rape of a child, involuntary deviate sexual intercourse with a child, aggravated assault of a child and statutory sexual assault. He is also charged with one felony count of endangering the welfare of a child.

On Oct. 25, 2018, Clarion County Children and Youth Services reported to Clarion state police that a 16-year-old boy was being sexually assaulted by Bloom, according to a criminal complaint.

The boy told police that the acts started when he was about 5 years old and ended when he moved to his uncle’s house about two years ago.

When first questioned about the claims, Bloom denied the incidents occurred. At a later date, Bloom contacted Clarion state police and said he would come to the barracks and talk of his own free will.

The complaint says that, on Jan. 16, Bloom admitted to sexually assaulting the boy, and a warrant was issued for his arrest.

Bloom then left the area.

Police said a plan is in place to extradite Bloom from Florida.