New Mexico man fights extradition to Florida after license plate readers used to track him to New Stanton

The lawyer of a man arrested this week at a Pennsylvania Turnpike service plaza told a judge he will challenge efforts to extradite his client to Florida to answer charges that he shot and killed his own brother.

John William Tolbert, 58, of New Mexico, is expected to remain in the Westmoreland County Prison for at least the next month as officials seek warrants from the Pennsylvania and Florida governors authorizing his extradition. Tolbert was arrested April 30 at the turnpike’s westbound service plaza near New Stanton.

Police were alerted that Tolbert’s a 2005 Chevy Impala had been tracked by license plate readers along various roads, according to court records. State police received information that Tolbert was wanted on manslaughter charges in Florida, converged on his vehicle at the service plaza and took him into custody without incident.

Assistant Public Defender Anthony Ciarlante said Tolbert will challenge the legality of his arrest, but declined to discuss additional details.

Westmoreland County Common Pleas Court Judge Scott Mears said Tolbert will remain in jail without bond as he awaits his extradition hearing that is expected to be scheduled in June.

Tolbert did not speak during a hearing Friday.

Police in Cape Coral, Fla, claim Tolbert shot his brother 73-year-old brother one time in the head on April 17.

Florida police said Tolbert made an unannounced visit to his brother and his family in early April. Police said the victim’s wife told investigators her husband had financially supported his brother for months but had recently stopped making payments.

According to a Florida police report, license plate readers located Tolbert’s vehicle traveling north, about 27 miles from the alleged shooting, and again four hours and more than 270 miles away near Jacksonville, Fla., sporting a different tag for another vehicle registered to Tolbert.

It was that license plate that was identified in Pennsylvania, prompting state police to arrest Tolbert, according to court records.