Raymond Eugene Vandiver was arrested in Panama Beach, Florida
Another Polk County Top 8 Captured, LIVINGSTON, August 11, 2008 - Another one of Polk County Crime Stoppers Top 8 Most Wanted fugitives has been captured in Panama City Beach, Florida. Raymond Eugene Vandiver is the fifth of the infamous "Top 8" to be captured in the last few months. The following is a press release from Polk County Criminal District Attorney, William Lee Hon:
Raymond Eugene Vandiver was found guilty in Harris County, Texas for Indecency with a Child in 1997 was required by state law to register as a sex offender. Vandiver’s last known location was Lake Shore in Livingston, Texas where he registered with the Polk County Sheriff’s Office. The address he was registered to be living in at Lake Shore was a temporary address while he completed a construction job for the owner. In July 2007 the owner of the residence discovered Vandiver was still registered to be living at her address. She immediately notified the Polk County Sheriff’s Office and a warrant was issued for Vandiver’s arrest. December 2007 Vandiver still had not been arrested on the outstanding warrant. The case was presented to a Polk County Grand Jury which handed down an indictment charging Raymond Eugene Vandiver's failure of Sex Offender Duty to Register a third degree felony. In February 2008 District Attorney Investigators were able to track Vandiver to a State Park in Galveston County, Texas where he had stayed during the summer months of 2007. Vandiver was working for Galveston Party Boats and had been fired for failing a random drug screening. Information gathered from the State Park registration form provided investigators with locations in Alabama and Florida for possible destinations of Vandiver. On August 7, 2008 Vandiver was located by officers of Panama Beach Police Department and subsequently arrested. Vandiver is currently in custody of the Bay County Jail in Florida, awaiting extradition back to Polk County, Texas.
Thank You, William Lee Hon
Polk County Criminal District Attorney
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