America’s Most Wanted helps apprehend local fugitive

An area fugitive has been on the run for four years but with the help of America’s Most Wanted, he was arrested in Ocala, Fla. on Saturday, Feb. 6.

Freddy Diaz, also known by numerous aliases, was involved in stealing $20,000-$30,000 worth of merchandise from the Fairfield Mall in 2005, according to Mark Adkins, an investigator with the Greene County prosecution office.

The string of thefts was part of Diaz’s involvement in a gang that travels across the country, stealing as much expensive merchandise as possible, which is then sold in Queens, N.Y., police said.

Although Diaz fled on foot when mall security stopped him, he left behind his rented van with the stolen merchandise inside. Shortly after escaping arrest, he was arrested in Queens on a DUI charge. Diaz was extradited to Ohio, where he pled guilty before fleeing again, said Adkins. Since then, police were unable to locate him until someone recognized him on the America’s Most Wanted Web site a little over a week ago and said he was living in Ocala.

After being contacted by Adkins last week with information on Diaz’s whereabouts, Ocala authorities were able to arrest Diaz on Saturday when he was working as a manager at a dance club, according to Adkins.

Diaz has signed a waiver of extradition, and Adkins expects to make the trip to Ocala sometime next week to bring Diaz back to Ohio. He is charged with eight counts of theft, eight counts of receiving stolen property and engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity.

Contact this reporter at (937) 225-2178 or kcano@DaytonDailyNews.com.

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