A fugitive was arrested on Thursday morning who was wanted on a nationwide extradition warrant for narcotics charges out of Texas.
Michael Anthony Renteria, 35, was taken into custody by the U.S. Marshals Task Force, in coordination with the Walton County Sheriff’s Office, at a hotel on Highway 98 in Miramar Beach.
In addition to the Texas warrant, Renteria faced active warrants from Escambia County for failure to appear and Walton County for fleeing and eluding law enforcement.
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After being detained, Renteria attempted to pass himself off as his brother, a tactic he had previously employed during an investigation into the Walton County fleeing and eluding case.
However, law enforcement officers confronted him with photographs of both himself and his brother, leading Renteria to admit his true identity.
Renteria had evaded authorities on his Texas warrants for approximately five years and was found carrying his brother’s Texas ID card at the time of his arrest.
In addition to his existing warrants, Renteria now faces a new charge for providing a false name to a law enforcement officer. He has been transported and booked into the Walton County Jail, where he awaits further legal proceedings.
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