The Northern Ohio Violent Fugitive Task Force released its latest most-wanted list Wednesday afternoon and had both Lorain Countians on the list in custody in just over a day.

Robert Cruz

They announced yesterday afternoon the arrest of John Wilson, 28, of Elyria, who was wanted on two counts of felonious assault involving a domestic incident on July 8 in Elyria.

Later yesterday evening, Brook Park police took in Robert Cruz, 43, of Lorain, Andrew Deserto, assistant chief deputy U.S. Marshal, said today.

Cruz was wanted on a warrant for burglary and a parole violation involving a robbery, according to Deserto.

Deserto didn’t have specifics on Cruz’s cases but said he was known to be “very violent” and had “numerous arrests involving violence.”

He said Cruz was taken into custody without incident at his uncle’s home in Brook Park, where he’d been staying.

Deserto said Cruz’s and Wilson’s arrests were directly the result of tips from the public.

“It shows the community really does care,” he said.

Since the Dangerous Dozen most-wanted list was started this summer, all seven Lorain County fugitives on the list have been taken in to custody. The list has resulted in 11 arrests total, he said.

“We’ve had a great response from the public out there,” he said of Lorain County. He said the Marshals Service is even exploring the idea of implementing a “fugitive of the week” program for Lorain County, similar to one it currently runs in the Cleveland area.

He said the next Dangerous Dozen list will be released in early September. He expects to include two more Lorain County fugitives as long as they are “good cases that meet the standard.”

“You might see some familiar faces” on the list, he added. “These really are the most wanted” people in our area, he explained.

ELYRIA — An Elyria man was arrested for obstructing official business and possession of drugs and drug paraphernalia, according to an Elyria police report.

Michael Crawford, 34, was being held Monday in the Lorain County Jail.

According to the report, officers were called to 835 Broad St. after two white men were seen with guns.

An officer arrived to find one of the men walking north on Water Street. As soon as the officer yelled for the man to stop, he began to run, police said.

The man ran face-first into a tree and was apprehended by police, the report said. He told officers he ran because he had needles in his pockets.

He told police his name was Josh Sumen, but his ID in his pocket said he was Michael Crawford, the report said. When police asked him if he was Michael Crawford, he said he was.

Police ran his name and found out he had an active warrant through the Lorain County Sheriff’s Office, the report said. Officers searched him and found suspected crack cocaine, a chrome pipe and a small baggie of marijuana, the report said. They also located half a pill of OxyContin that was not prescribed to him.

Officers contacted the real Josh Sumen, who was the owner of the vehicle Crawford was found with, the report said. Sumen said he had picked Crawford up in Olmsted Township and had no weapon.

An officer’s Oakley sunglasses, valued at about $75, were damaged during the foot pursuit, the report said.

CLEVELAND — In a lost sea­son for the Indians, they may have found a gem for their pitching staff.

Jeanmar Gomez came through with another fine per­formance Thursday night, allowing one run and six hits in six-plus innings, as the Tribe posted a 4-1 win over the Balti­more Orioles.

Baltimore was bidding for its first three-game sweep in Cleveland since April 1987 — before the 22-year-old Gomez was even born — but was unable to solve the rookie from Venezuela.

“He’s mature beyond his age and he’s able to slow things down out there on the mound,” Indians manager Manny Acta said of his blossoming right­hander. “He’s already given us four quality starts and contin­ues to go out there fearless. One thing we know already is he’s not going to back down when guys hit him around.”

Gomez (3-0, 1.54 ERA) was in command all evening against the Orioles, who had their season-high winning streak snapped at four. He faced the minimum number of batters through 4 2 / 3 innings, finishing his outing with three strikeouts and no walks.

In the process, Gomez became just the fourth Tribe pitcher since 1920 to win three of his first four MLB appearances, joining Jim “Mudcat” Grant (1958), Wynn Hawkins (1960) and Scott Lewis (2008).

“He has good, late life on his fastball and he pounded the strike zone,” Baltimore manager Buck Showalter said. “I was impressed. I can see why they’re so high on him.”

Rafael Perez and Chris Perez followed with three innings of hitless relief to snap Cleveland’s four-game losing skid. It was Chris Perez’s team-high 14th save and came in front of 14,533 fans (who consumed 18,932 $1 hot dogs).

Center fielder Michael Brantley ignited the Indians’ offense with a career high-tying four hits, one run and one stolen base. Left fielder Trevor Crowe, batting in the five spot for the first time, added two hits and two RBIs.

More photos below.

After Gomez left the game with a 3-1 lead, the Tribe tacked on an insurance run in the bottom of the eighth. Orioles third baseman Josh Bell failed to stop a smash by Andy Marte for an error, which proved costly when Asdrubal Cabrera brought him home three batters later.

“Brantley set the tone really well, Crowe did a fantastic job driving guys in, and that hit by Cabrera was huge,” Acta said.

Baltimore starter Kevin Millwood — the 2005 American League ERA champion with Cleveland — continued his quest for a far different crown by allowing three runs and nine hits in seven innings.

Millwood (2-12, 5.74 ERA) took over sole possession of the AL lead in losses, breaking a seven-way tie for first place, and fell to 1-8 on the road. The veteran right-hander’s last win came June 24.

“I felt like I at least kept us in the game,” Millwood said. “I guess I have to pick a better night to pitch on when we score more runs.”

The Indians took a 1-0 lead in the first inning when Crowe beat out an infield single with two down, allowing Brantley to score from third. Crowe reached the bag a split-second before the throw from Baltimore shortstop Cesar Izturis.

Tribe catcher Lou Marson made it 2-0 in the second with an RBI groundout that scored Jason Donald.

In the fifth, Shin-Soo Choo was hit squarely on the right hand by a Millwood pitch. He came around when Crowe doubled off the base of the wall in left-center field to extend Cleveland’s lead to 3-0.

The Orioles finally broke through against Gomez in the top of the sixth when Ty Wigginton’s two-out single scored Bell, who had led off with a double.

Contact Brian Dulik at brisports@hotmail.com.

CLEVELAND — Designated hitter Travis Hafner has been booed, criti­cized and even had his manhood ques­tioned by Indians fans. Tribe manager Manny Acta, how­ever, remains squarely behind his oft­injured slugger. “You can’t be judging people who are hurt without being in their body,” the skipper said Thursday. “I just hope Travis gets to a point where he can help us. I want this guy to be healthy.

“Now, whether he’ll be back to where he once was, that’s something I can’t tell you, but I want to be able to find out.”

Hafner, who has been on the dis­abled list since Aug. 3 with an inflamed right shoulder, will take batting prac­tice today at Progressive Field.

If the session goes well, the 33-year­old will meet with Acta to decide his next step toward returning to action. A short rehab stint with either Triple-A Columbus or Double-A Akron is likely.

On the season, Hafner is hitting .267 with nine home runs and 33 RBIs in 82 games — while making a team-high $11.5 million salary.

In the last three years, “Pronk” has missed 206 games — and counting — because of right shoulder problems. His once vaunted power has also dis­appeared as the 6-foot-3, 240-pounder has homered a total of 30 times since his $57 million contract extension kicked in.

“At some point, if he’s not helping the ballclub and we have to cut his playing time, then we’ll deal with it then,” Acta said. “We’re going to have to see how he responds when he comes back. But my only concern right now is him coming back healthy.”

Regardless of Hafner’s physical sta­tus, Cleveland will pay him $13 million in guaranteed money in each of the next two seasons. It also holds a $13 million option for 2013, but will almost certainly exercise a $2.75 mil­lion buyout.

Those numbers add up to two things: the Indians still owe Hafner at least $28.75 million — and will give him every opportunity to earn it by putting him in their lineup.

“I think you guys know our team as well as I do,” Acta said. “With our mar­ket and our situation, we’re not going to spend an incredible amount of money on another DH.”

Pitchers Aaron Laffey (left- shoulder fatigue) and Anthony Reyes (right elbow) are also working their way back. Laffey has been sidelined since July 20, while Reyes underwent recon­structive surgery last season and hasn’t pitched for the Indians since.

“Laffey is going to throw a full bullpen (today) with all his pitches, then we’ll map out his rehab,” Acta said. “Reyes’ arm is fine, but just like with Jake (Westbrook, who had a simi­lar operation), the last thing he’s going to get back is his command. In five days, he’ll go out again and pitch.”

Trivia answer

Hendrickson

Orioles pitcher Mark Hendrickson is one of 12 all-time MLB players who have played in the NBA — and the only pro athlete ever to appear in a game at both Progressive Field and Quicken Loans Arena.

The 6-foot-9 reliever told The Chronicle-Telegram that he closely followed LeBron James’ free agency saga, having played in 10 games with the Cavaliers in 1999-2000.

“It interested me quite a bit because I wanted to know where he would wind up,” said Hendrickson, a power forward who also saw action with the 76ers, Kings, Nets in four NBA seasons.

“Unfortunately, people here didn’t get what they wanted in the end, but I can understand what most of the (high-profile free agents) were going through in their minds.”

Hendrickson (1-4 with a 5.13 ERA in 35 appearances this season) thinks it’s far too early to concede the NBA title to Miami, even though it brought together James with Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh.

“Obviously, decisions in the summer don’t always play out the way you think they will in the spring,” he said. “They’re not a lock by any means because there are a lot of very good teams.”

Coming attraction

The pitching matchups are set for Seattle’s lone 2010 visit to Progressive Field this weekend.

Fausto Carmona (12-9, 3.90 ERA) starts for the Indians tonight at 7:05 against fellow right-hander David Pauley (0-4, 3.38).

Tribe righty Mitch Talbot (8-9, 4.09) returns from the disabled list Saturday at 7:05 p.m. to take on left-hander Jason Vargas (8-5, 3.12).

Justin Masterson (4-11, 5.47) finishes the series Sunday at 1:05 p.m., challenging Seattle ace Felix Hernandez (8-9, 2.71) in a battle of right-handers.

Roundin’ third

• The Indians entered Thursday with a 3-1 record on “Dollar Dog Night.” Perhaps more important to the franchise, their average attendance on those dates was 20,794 — 17.9 percent higher than their MLB-low season average of 17,637.
• The upper deck murals of Jhonny Peralta (now with Detroit) and Jake Westbrook (St. Louis) at Progressive Field have been replaced by graphics featuring closer Chris Perez and Acta.

Contact Brian Dulik at brisports@hotmail.com.