Fugitive Sex Offender Captured at Playground in Milton

MILTON, FL - The U.S. Marshals North Florida Violent Fugitive Task Force apprehended a sex offender this afternoon wanted by police in Connecticut for sexually assaulting two young girls. The Task Force arrested Charles Hayes at 4:15 p.m. while he was fishing at Carpenter’s Park in Milton which is located at the intersection of Munson Highway and Broad Street. The 65 year old Hayes of Miller Road in Milton was arrested without incident and transported by the Milton Police Department to Santa Rosa County Jail. During their investigation task force members from Escambia and Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Offices and Milton Police Department discovered that Hayes loves to fish. The Task Force quickly dispersed to areas around Milton that are popular among local fishermen.

“We were contacted by our Marshals Office in Bridgeport (Connecticut) this morning and we went to work immediately,” said Deputy U.S. Marshal Dominic Guadagnoli, spokesman for the Pensacola Fugitive Task Force.

“All of our cases are very important to us; but sexual offenders are a priority because we want these types of fugitives off our streets as soon as possible. It worries me that we found him in a park where children are playing on a daily basis,” said Guadagnoli.

Hayes is wanted by the Bridgeport Police Department on several counts of Sexual Assault on a Minor stemming from allegations that he assaulted two young girls several years ago in Bridgeport. According to police reports, Hayes threatened to hurt the girls if they told anyone. Sometime after the incidents took place it appeared that he fled to Florida. Hayes is originally from Alabama.

Hayes will stay at the Santa Rosa County Jail until his extradition back to Bridgeport.