U.S. Attorney: Marshals Nab 20-Year Fugitive In Poland Disco Killing

GARFIELD, N.J. -- Nearly two decades after authorities in Poland said he beat a man to death there, U.S. Marshals Wednesday morning found him living in Garfield.

Outside the Martin Luther King U.S. District Courthouse in Newark
Photo Credit: *CLIFFVIEW PILOT*

Jerry DeMarco

03/02/2016 4:48 p.m.

Rafal Kaldon, 38, was being held without bond after Marshals brought him before a federal judge in U.S. District Court in Newark later in the day.

Under an extradition treaty, he will have a hearing aimed at returning him to Poland to face murder charges, U.S. Attorney Paul J. Fishman said.

"On the evening of Aug. 25, 1996, Kaldon and an accomplice allegedly entered a disco in Poland, walked up to a man, and without speaking to him, began to beat him until he collapsed to the floor," Fishman said. "Afterwards, they continued to kick and beat him.

"Witnesses in the disco attempted to resuscitate the victim, but he was pronounced dead at the scene."

Kaldon then "retrieved his passport and cash from his sister immediately after the attack and fled Poland," the U.S. attorney said.

A warrant for his arrest was issued in 2002.

Fishman credited the Marshals with finding and arresting Kaldon. The case was being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Rebecca M. Sherill of his Criminal Division in Newark.

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