U.S. Marshals in Texas Apprehend Indiana Hit-and-Run Fugitive on the Run for Nearly 12 Years

Indianapolis, IN – U.S. Marshals in Texas, acting on multiple collateral leads originating with the U.S. Marshals Service (USMS) Great Lakes Regional Fugitive Task Force (GLRFTF), in coordination with the Muncie Police Department, on Jan. 24 located and safely arrested a man wanted for a 2012 vehicular negligence causing serious injuries to a child in Muncie.    

Doroteo Chavez, 62, was wanted in connection with the Aug. 18, 2012, hit-and-run accident which left a 2-year-old girl a broken femur, internal injuries, and severe skin abrasions. Chavez was driving while under the influence of alcohol at the time he struck the girl. He was charged with driving while intoxicated, failure to remain at the scene of an accident resulting in serious bodily injury, causing serious bodily injury, and failure to return to the scene of an accident. He was released on $13,000 bond, but failed to appear for the next court hearing and fled the area.    

GLRFTF investigators developed information that Chavez was in the Mount Airy, North Carolina, area and sent a collateral lead to the USMS Carolinas Regional Fugitive Task Force (CRFTF) in North Carolina. CRFTF investigators interviewed family members of Chavez and determined he was not in North Carolina but residing with a relative in Valdosta, Georgia, and provided this information to the USMS Southeast Reginal Fugitive Task Force.

SERFTF sent investigators to the location and after conducting surveillance and interviews determined Chavez had been residing in Valdosta but had departed one day earlier. Investigators then learned Chavez had fled to Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and requested the assistance of the USMS in the Middle District of Louisiana Task Force (MLTF). MLTF investigators pursued Chavez and determined he had fled the area and was heading towards Houston.  

The USMS Southern District of Texas Fugitive Task Force was contacted and activated personnel that developed information that placed Chavez in San Antonio and provided this information to the USMS Lone Star Fugitive Task Force (LSFTF) to assist in locating him. 

LSFTF investigators developed further information that Chavez was at the La Quinta Inn & Suites on I-35 in San Antonio. LSFTF members conducting surveillance at the inn identified Chavez standing outside his motel room and took him into custody.

Chavez will be extradited to Indiana to be arraigned on the charges.  

The USMS GLRFTF began operations in June 2003. The GLRFTF has partnership agreements with more than 93 federal, state, and local agencies and operates in Illinois, Indiana, and Wisconsin. The GLRFTF has apprehended more than 117,000 fugitives since its inception and is always striving to make communities safer. 

The USMS Carolinas Regional Fugitive Task Force began operations in January 2018. The CRFTF  has partnership agreements with more than 72 federal, state, and local agencies and operates in North Carolina and South Carolina. The CRFTF has apprehended more than 8,900 fugitives since its inception.  

The USMS SERFTF began operations in June 2003. It has partnership agreements with more than 38 federal, state, and local agencies and operates throughout Georgia. The SERFTF has apprehended more than 45,000 fugitives since its inception.

The Middle District of Louisiana Fugitive Task Force began operations in 1995. The MLTF has partnership agreements with 2 federal and 5 state and local agencies and operates in Baton Rouge covering 9 parishes. 

The Southern District of Texas Fugitive Task Force began operation in 1993 and has partnership agreements with 6 federal and 38 state and local agencies and operates in the areas from Houston to Brownsville and Laredo. 

The Western District of Texas Lone Star Fugitive Task Force began operations in 2005. The LSFTF has partnership agreements with 41 federal, state, and local agencies and operates the areas of West Texas covering  68 counties.