San Antonio, TX – The Lone Star Fugitive Task Force concluded a week long operation resulting in the arrest of 186 federal and state felony offenders. “Operation Heatwave”, a fugitive round-up, comprised of city, county, state, and federal law enforcement officers, targeted approximately 350 fugitives with outstanding felony warrants. As of 8:00 a.m. this morning, the 186 arrests lead to the clearance of over 200 warrants. “Operation Heatwave”, a collaboration of over 90 law enforcement officers from 16 various agencies.

On August 6th, Hector Perez, 58, was arrested at his residence in San Antonio without incident on a felony warrant for allegations involving failure to register as a sex offender. Perez was originally charged in 1994 for aggravated sexual assault of a child and subsequently pled guilty. Perez was convicted in 2004 for failing to register as a sex offender. In January of this year, an arrest warrant was issued alleging that Perez again failed to register as sex offender.

On August 7th, Raul Solis, 23, was arrested on a felony warrant for allegations involving super aggravated sexual assault of a child. Task force officers developed information that Solis was residing with his girlfriend in San Antonio. During the approach to the residence, Solis attempted to run out the back door of the residence, but was quickly apprehended. Solis was previously arrested on charges involving injury to a child, burglary, carrying a prohibited weapon, and discharging a firearm.

On August 8th, Refugio Ortega, 71, was arrested in New Braunfels on a felony warrant for allegations involving continuous sexual abuse of a child. An investigation revealed that Ortega allegedly sexually abused 6 victims under the age of 14 during a 9 year period from 2003 to 2012. The New Braunfels Police Department contacted the Lone Star Fugitive Task Force and requested assistance to locate Ortega. Task force officers, along with the New Braunfels Police Department developed information of Ortega’s whereabouts and arrested him without incident.

Other significant arrests during this operation include:

• Joshua Clowes, 19, probation violation for assault on a public servant; prior arrests include assault bodily injury, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, weapons violations, theft, and evading arrest.
• Matthew Martinez, 20, robbery of a business with a weapon.
• Joshua Murley, 28, impersonating a police officer; prior arrests include possession of marijuana, burglary, and forgery.
• Oscar Torres, 31, continuous sexual assault of a child. Sergio Rojas, 32, 3 counts of felony DWI.
• Bobby McDonald, 36, deadly conduct involving discharge of a firearm; prior arrests include aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.
• Arnulfo Vela, 42, parole violation for manslaughter.
• Ricky Cantu, 45, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon; prior arrests include robbery and resisting arrest.
• Clovis Cooper, 49, indecency with a child involving sexual contact.

Breakdown of warrants cleared and seizures as a result from “Operation Heatwave”:

• 27 warrants cleared for violent offenses
• 43 warrants cleared for drug offenses
• 11 warrants cleared for sex offenses
• 119 warrants cleared for other felony offense
• 2 guns seized
• 1 seizure of 18 grams of marijuana
• 1 seizure of .5 grams of methamphetamines

Robert Almonte, the United States Marshal for the Western District of Texas, stated “Today we celebrate the culmination of “Operation Heatwave” and the outstanding partnership of local, county, state, and federal law enforcement agencies. I am truly proud of the men and women who worked tirelessly and with dedicated effort to locate and arrest these violent offenders. The Lone Star Fugitive Task Force will continue to work alongside our partners in law enforcement to help keep our communities safe and to put the criminals behind bars.”

Participating Agencies in “Operation Heatwave” were:

• Kerrville Police Department
• New Braunfels Police Department
• San Antonio Police Department
• San Antonio ISD Police Department
• Bexar County Sheriff’s Office
• Comal County Sheriff’s Office
• Kerr County Sheriff’s Office Bexar County Fire Marshal’s Office
• Bexar County District Attorney’s Office
• Texas Office of the Attorney General
• Texas Department of Criminal Justice – Office of the Inspector General
• Texas Department of Public Safety – Criminal Investigations Division
• Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives
• Drug Enforcement Administration
• Homeland Security Investigations
• United States Marshals Service

Members of the Lone Star Fugitive Task Force:

• San Antonio Police Department
• San Antonio Independent School District Police Department
• Bexar County Sheriff’s Office
• Comal County Sheriff’s Office
• Bexar County Fire Marshal’s Office
• Bexar County District Attorney’s Office
• Texas Office of the Attorney General
• Texas Department of Public Safety – Criminal Investigations Division
• Texas Department of Criminal Justice – Office of the Inspector General
• U.S. Marshals Service

Additional information about the U.S. Marshals Service can be found at http://www.usmarshals.gov.

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