A routine domestic dispute investigation in Coffee County led to the arrest of a fugitive wanted on a warrant out of Florida. The incident began on August 2, 2024, when deputies responded to a call about Lucas Vasquez, 22, from Douglas, who allegedly damaged a door inside a home on Old Waycross Highway before fleeing into nearby woods.
Upon investigation, the victim revealed that she had spoken with Vasquez the day before at Dollar General. She claimed that Vasquez had become angry after being unable to access a bathroom and threatened to kick down the door. Deputies later found the door in the yard with a large shoe print on it, and the landlord confirmed that Vasquez had no permission to be at the property.
Vasquez, questioned by officers, denied the allegations, claiming that it was the victim who had broken the door and that he wasn’t hiding from deputies. He further stated that workers at the house had let him in, but the workers denied any interaction with Vasquez.
As a result, Vasquez was arrested for criminal trespass and taken to the Coffee County Jail. However, when his fingerprints were processed, authorities discovered that Lucas Vasquez was actually David Varela, a fugitive with an outstanding warrant from Florida. In addition to the criminal trespass charge, Varela now faces a fugitive from justice charge.