NewsNoticias Tampa Bay (Univision)September 11, 2026Hillsborough County
Santa Fe Police Arrest Texas Man on Child Exploitation and Electronic Solicitation Charges
Photo: Noticias Tampa Bay (Univision)
Santa Fe police arrested 47-year-old Gabriel García of Houston, Texas, following an undercover sting operation involving solicitation of a minor and attempted sexual exploitation. After fleeing police in his vehicle, officers used a PIT maneuver to stop him on Interstate 25, discovering he also had an active arrest warrant out of Illinois.
Read the full story at Noticias Tampa Bay (Univision)Why It Matters
A non-resident with an active out-of-state warrant was apprehended following a high-speed vehicle pursuit and undercover operation in Santa Fe.
Key Facts
- Gabriel García, a 47-year-old resident of Houston, Texas, was arrested in Santa Fe, New Mexico.
- The arrest was executed by the Santa Fe Police Department's Special Victims Unit (SVU) and Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) team.
- The investigation began after García communicated with an undercover detective posing as a minor.
- García traveled from Texas to Santa Fe to meet the undercover detective and offered money for sexual acts.
- García attempted to flee when detectives tried to stop his vehicle, leading to a police pursuit.
- An officer used a pursuit intervention technique (PIT maneuver) to stop García's vehicle on Interstate 25.
- García had an active arrest warrant out of Illinois for sexual assault and aggravated criminal abuse against a victim aged 13 to 16.
- Charges include eight counts of soliciting a minor via electronic device, sexual exploitation of minors via recruitment, and first-degree attempted criminal sexual penetration of a minor.
- García was booked into the Santa Fe County Adult Detention Facility.
Who's Mentioned
OrganizationDepartamento de Policía de Santa Fe“Law enforcement agency that conducted the arrest”OrganizationDelitos en Internet contra Niños (ICAC)“Internet Crimes Against Children team”OrganizationUnidad de Víctimas Especiales (SVU)“Special Victims Unit involved in the operation”locationInterestatal 25“Interstate where the vehicle pursuit ended”locationHouston“Resident city of the suspect in Texas”locationIllinois“State where the suspect had an active arrest warrant”PersonGabriel García“Suspect arrested in Santa Fe”locationCentro de Detención de Adultos del Condado de Santa Fe“Adult detention facility where the suspect was booked”