Sex Offender
and Accused Rapist, Kidnapper Captured By U.S. Marshals in Orlando
ORLANDO, FL -The U.S. Marshals
North Florida Violent Fugitive Task Force and Santa Rosa County
Sheriff’s Office; working in conjunction with the U.S. Marshals
Orlando Regional Task Force (ORTF) apprehended a convicted sex
offender in Orlando this afternoon wanted for rape in Santa Rosa
County. Michael Wayne Cooper, 46, was arrested at his home on the
8600 Block of Banyan Boulevard in Orlando without incident. At
approximately 2:45 p.m. (EST), Deputy Marshals and members of the
Orange County Sheriff’s Office knocked on Cooper’s front door. After
Cooper opened the door, he was arrested. Cooper is wanted by the
Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office on charges of kidnapping, sexual
assault on a victim 12 years or older and displaying a weapon during
a felony. Cooper is also a Registered Sex Offender in the state of
Florida. He was currently registered at the address where he was
arrested.
The U.S. Marshals fugitive task force was first contacted by the
Santa Rosa County Major Crimes Unit Wednesday evening, when they
believed that Cooper may be back in Orlando. Task force members
responded and began working with them to coordinate Cooper’s
apprehension in the Orlando area. The North Florida Violent Fugitive
Task Force (NFVFTF) immediately contacted their office in Orlando,
who then in turn hit the streets canvassing the local area trying to
locate Cooper or his vehicle. After two days of almost non-stop
surveillances and an intense investigation, the ORTF members came
across him back at the residence they had been watching.
“We have been working with Santa Rosa Sheriff’s Office a lot more
since they have recently joined our task force,” said Deputy U.S.
Marshal Dominic Guadagnoli, spokesman for the Pensacola Fugitive
Task Force.
“This is that exact kind of case that we can help the local
authorities with and I think that it shows the success of law
enforcement agencies working together.” “And, especially in a case
like this where the police and the public want these violent
fugitives arrested as soon as possible,” said Guadagnoli.
The charges allege that Cooper who has been previously convicted
several times for kidnapping and rape charges, approached his victim
outside a nightclub in Ft. Walton Beach on July 8. Cooper allegedly
and forced her into his 1999 Ford Explorer using a knife and then
took her to Santa Rosa where he raped her. And later returned her to
the Ft. Walton Beach area and left her there.
After his arrest Cooper was taken to the Orange County Jail while he
awaits extradition back to the panhandle. Cooper’s vehicle was also
seized pending crime scene unit processing. |