Fugitive on Mass Most Wanted list arrested in Miami

A man previously on the Massachusetts State Police Most Wanted Fugitives list was arrested Friday morning in Miami, Florida.

According to State Police, Kevin J. Hamel, 50, was wanted for violently kidnapping and assaulting a woman on March 30 last year in Townsend.

Hamel is wanted for kidnapping, assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, domestic assault and battery, and vandalism.

A Mass. State Police trooper assigned to the Violent Fugitive Apprehension Section tracked Hamel down to Miami, where he was arrested at around 7:45 a.m. by U.S. Marshals.

Hamel was taken to to the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center in Miami, where he was booked as a fugitive from justice and will be held pending rendition to Massachusetts.

On the day of the kidnapping, Townsend Police got a 911 call from a woman fleeing an assault in progress, which led officials to determine Hamel had been holding the woman against her will and violently assaulting her.

While authorities weren't able to find Hamel and obtain an arrest warrant, at the time Hamel, who had an extensive criminal history including firearm and kidnapping convictions and restraining order violations, was also wanted for violation his probation from one of the previous convictions.

He was added to the Mass. Most Wanted list in August.

Information obtained earlier this month led police down to Miami in search for Hamel.

Cox Media Group