Florida Fugitive Wanted for Sex Assault on Child Caught
in Park at the FL-AL State Line

FLORALA, AL - The U.S. Marshals North Florida Violent Fugitive Task Force arrested Joseph Lee Riddle; an Okaloosa County man wanted in connection with a sex offense that charges he had sexually assaulted an eleven year old child. Riddle is wanted on warrants from Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office for Sexual Battery on a Child under 12 and Lewd and Lascivious Molestation of a Child 12 Years or Younger. Riddle, 25, originally from Laurel Hill was apprehended yesterday by the task force and its members from Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office just across the Florida state line at Lake Jackson Park in Florala, Alabama. The Sheriff’s Office received a Crime Stopper’s Tip that he would be there some time in the late afternoon. Surveillance was set up by the task force and at 3:45 p.m. they saw Riddle walking toward s the park from a store across the street. Riddle was taken into custody without incident. Riddle was taken to the Covington County Jail by the Florala Police Department and will await extradition back to Okaloosa County where he will face the sex offense charges.

The task force is just coming off of the heels of the U.S. Marshals Operation FALCON where Deputy United States Marshals teamed up with federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies to conduct a violent fugitive round up of sex offenders, gang members, and violent felony offenders. Locally in Okaloosa, Santa Rosa and Escambia Counties, the operation netted 19 sex offenders.