A man wanted by Walton County Sheriff’s Office for lewd and lascivious battery on a child under 16 was arrested after trying to use a makeshift hideout under a home in DeFuniak Springs to escape.
Members of the U.S. Marshals Florida Caribbean Regional Task Force responded to a house on Dawn Road early this morning to serve a warrant for Travis Hoose, 36.
When they arrived movement was observed inside the home and lights were suddenly turned off. The Marshals made entry and searched the home, discovering a hide located cut into the floor of one of the bedrooms.
The crawl space led under the trailer to the back of the house where Hoose was seen attempting to flee. He was quickly apprehended by perimeter units without incident.
“This kind of situation is why the job of a law enforcement officer can be so dangerous,” said Sheriff Michael Adkinson. “However creative they may get, the result will still be the same – with the suspect behind bars.”
In addition to warrants for lewd and lascivious battery, Hoose is also wanted for failure to obey LEO commands to stop, and a slew of other charges including obstruction and violation of parole.
He was transported to the Walton County Jail and is awaiting first appearance.
U.S. Marshals Task Force members on this arrest consisted of Walton, Holmes, and Jackson County Sheriff’s Office Deputies.
