The Record Newspapers - Hometown News For Orange County, Texas

Jeffrey Ortiz, 37, a Texas 10 Most Wanted Sex Offender, is now in custody after being arrested Dec. 16 in Dallas. Ortiz, who is considered a high-risk sex offender, was wanted for failure to register as a sex offender (Edinburg), probation violation and for failure to appear. The arrest was the result of a tip and a reward will be paid.

Tip information led the Texas Department of Public Safety Criminal Investigations Division, U.S. Marshals Service North Texas Fugitive Task Force and Dallas Police Department to a residence in Dallas where Ortiz was located and arrested without incident. Since the arrest was the result of tip information and during a month in which Ortiz was a featured fugitive, a reward up to $8,000 will be paid. For more information, see his captured bulletin at:

http://www.txdps.state.tx.us/Texas10MostWanted/SexOffenderDetails.aspx?id=264

So far in 2014, DPS and other agencies have arrested 28 Texas 10 Most Wanted Fugitives and Sex Offenders, including 13 sex offenders and ten gang members, and $63,500 in rewards have been paid for tips that resulted in arrests.

To be eligible for the cash rewards, there are five different ways to provide anonymous tips:

• Call the Crime Stoppers hotline at 1-800-252-TIPS (8477).
• Text the letters DPS – followed by your tip – to 274637 (CRIMES) from your cell phone.
• Submit a web tip through the DPS website by selecting the fugitive you have information about, and then clicking on the link under their picture.
• Submit a Facebook tip at http://www.facebook.com/texas10mostwanted by clicking the “SUBMIT A TIP” link (under the “About” section).
• Submit a tip through the DPS mobile app.

  The app is currently available for iPhone users on the Apple App Store (https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/texas-dps/id902092368?mt=8link) and for Android users on Google Play (https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.microassist.texasdps&hl=enlink).

DPS investigators work with local law enforcement agencies to select fugitives featured in the Texas 10 Most Wanted Program. To view the current lists – with photos – visit the DPS website at http://www.dps.texas.gov/texas10mostwanted/.

Do not attempt to apprehend these fugitives; they are considered armed and dangerous.