Warrant roundup leads to arrest of 33 offenders who had outstanding family violence warrants
Texas Insider Report: AUSTIN, Texas – (FORT WORTH) – The Office of the Attorney General’s Fugitive Apprehension Unit coordinated a law enforcement operation with local, state and federal law enforcement authorities that led to the arrest of 33 fugitives with outstanding felony and misdemeanor family violence arrest warrants. Attorney General Abbott made the following statement about the warrant sweep:
“This joint operation reflects a concerted crackdown on domestic violence offenders by state and local law enforcement agencies. During this operation, the Attorney General’s Office successfully partnered with local officials in Tarrant County and the Texas Department of Public Safety to locate and arrest 33 individuals with outstanding warrants for family violence offenses. We are grateful to state, federal and local law enforcement agencies – including the Fort Worth and Arlington police departments, the Tarrant County Sheriff’s Office and the Tarrant County District Attorney’s Office – for partnering with the Attorney General’s Office on this very significant joint operation.”
On April 9, Fugitive Unit investigators collaborated with the Tarrant County District Attorney’s Office, the Tarrant County Sheriff’s Office, and the Texas Juvenile Justice Department Office of Inspector General to locate Matthew Hernandez, 46, in Fort Worth, and take him into custody. The Tarrant County Sheriff’s Office issued a warrant for Hernandez’s arrest in early March for domestic violence assault against a family member. DPS records indicate Hernandez’s criminal history includes injury to a child/elderly/disabled with reckless bodily injury; assault bodily injury family member; assault bodily injury; and theft of property.
Law enforcement team
Law enforcement entities participating in the April 7 – April 11 sweep were:
- Texas Attorney General’s Fugitive Apprehension Unit
- Fort Worth Police Department
- Arlington Police Department
- Tarrant County Sheriff’s Office
- Tarrant County District Attorney’s Office
- Texas Department of Public Safety – CID
- Texas Department of Criminal Justice – OIG
- Texas Juvenile Justice Department – OIG
- Federal Bureau of Investigation
- United States Marshals Service
- Homeland Security Investigations – National Gang Unit
The Texas Attorney General’s Fugitive Apprehension Unit has successfully located and arrested more than 3,200 individuals who had outstanding arrest warrants – primarily subjects who were convicted sex offenders. The agency’s Crime Victim Services Division oversees the Compensation to Victims of Crime Fund, which provides financial assistance to victims of violent crime. The division also awards grants to nonprofit organizations that provide critically needed services to crime victims.
During the 2012-13 grant cycle, grants were awarded to 10 victim advocacy organizations and local government programs located in Tarrant County. As a result, family violence victims in the Fort Worth area received victim-related services such as grief counseling and shelter from domestic violence.
For more information about the OAG’s Fugitive Apprehension Unit and Crime Victim Services Division, access the agency’s website at www.texasattorneygeneral.gov.
