For Immediate Release

Gulf Breeze, FL – The U.S. Marshals Florida Regional Fugitive Task Force arrested a man at the Gulf Breeze Zoo this afternoon who is wanted by law enforcement in Huntsville, AL. Jonathan Derek Ramey is being sought by the U.S. Marshals Gulf Coast Regional Fugitive Task Force and the Sheriff’s Offices in Marshall and Etowah Counties,  AL as the main suspect in burglaries which an assortment of guns were stolen. According to the warrant that was issued last week, Ramey allegedly took over 15 rifles and 6 handguns and a digital camera with a combined worth of over $2,500. The Marshals GCRFTF in Huntsville contacted the FRFTF in Pensacola about 11 a.m. this morning requesting their assistance in apprehending Ramey when they learned that he was in Destin. Task Force investigators from Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office learned that Ramey and three unidentified friends had checked out of a motel in Destin and were believed to be heading toward Pensacola. A Shortly after Deputy Marshals found what was presumed to be the car they were traveling in at the Zoo in Gulf Breeze. Investigators then confirmed that they were inside the zoo. Task Force Officers from Okaloosa, Santa Rosa Sheriff’s Office and the U.S. Marshals waited for Ramey and his friends to exit before approaching and arresting him at about 1:30 p.m. 

“With the propensity for him to have a gun we didn’t want to go into the zoo itself where innocent people including a group of school children were, “stated Dominic Guadagnoli with the Marshals Task Force in Pensacola. “At the same time, we didn’t want him to drive off in a car and get into a car chase either so we decided to surprise him the best we could with the least danger to the public,” said Guadagnoli.

After Ramey was arrested and the others detained, a search his vehicle revealed a loaded .357 snub-nose handgun and marijuana. It is unknown at this time if the handgun was one of the stolen guns. Two females and a male were identified and released at the scene. According to the Marshals in Huntsville Ramey is possibly a suspect in a string of burglaries up to about 20 or more.

Ramey was brought to the Santa Rosa county Jail and is being held on the Alabama warrant. No local charges have been filed against Ramey at this time.

Additional information about the U.S. Marshals Service can be found at http://www.usmarshals.gov.