Wednesday January 5th 2011 early morning, officers from the U.S. Marshals Florida/Caribbean Fugitive Task Force conducted an operation in DeFuniak Springs, Florida. Officers were planning to serve an arrest warrant for Lewd and Lascivious Battery on a Child, Failure to Appear (Walton County), Failure to Appear (Okaloosa County) and Fugitive / Absconder (Immigration and Customs Enforcement), on Pablo Baza-Valerio, DOB 05/24/1986, 617 Ruckel Drive. Information developed quickly lead officers to a vehicle that had just left the residence on Ruckel Drive. Task Force Members conducted a traffic stop on a White Ford F-150 pickup truck and had contact with three of the suspect’s family members.
All three subjects in the vehicle were detained and taken to the DeFuniak Springs Police Department where officers questioned the subjects in an attempt to locate Pablo Baza-Valerio. Telephone contact was established with Baza-Valerio and after weighing his options, the suspect made arrangements to surrender to the officers. Baza-Valerio was taken into custody at the DeFuniak Springs Police Department at approximately 8:00am and he was transported to the Walton County Jail. Baza-Valerio is believed to be an undocumented individual, residing in Walton County, Florida and has prior arrests for various traffic offenses.
Agencies participating in this operation were; DeFuniak Springs Police, Niceville Police Department, Office of the State Attorney (Crestview), Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office, Washington County Sheriff’s Office and the Walton County Sheriff’s Offices.
Lieutenant Tilman Mears
Special Operations Commander
mearstf@defuniakspringspolice.net