2010
Bounty Hunter Rolando Betancort (Ruben Dario Cruz II) pursues fugitive Darli Velazquez (Marcelo Cabrera) in a four month chase through Miami, Spain and the Canary Islands.
Just weeks after posting a $1 million bond, Darli Velazquez skipped bail. Federal authorities were alerted that something was wrong when Velazquezs electronic monitoring bracelet sent a no response signal that the defendant had failed to report home.
Veteran bounty hunter Rolando Betancourt was hired by the bail bond company to track down and capture the fugitive.Betancourt went as far as renting a garbage truck to make un-scheduled garbage runs at the defendants Miami home. One day, fearing they had been spotted, they were forced to pick up the neighbor's garbage down whole length of the street. The early morning garbage runs paid off, amongst the bags of debris were shredded documents that investigators were able to reconstruct yielding a cache of information including used calling cards, bank records, and pages from a First Class in-flight magazine belonging to a European Airline, leading the investigators to believe the defendant was somewhere in Europe, quite possibly the Country of Spain.
After weeks of grueling 24 hour round the clock surveillance of various locations Betancourt received a tip that members of Velazquez's family were planning an overseas trip, he was able to follow the defendants ex-wife to Miami International Airport were she, her two children and other members of the fugitives family had gathered to board an Iberia flight destined for Madrid, Spain. Betancourt always prepared for the un-expected did not hesitate to buy a ticket to Madrid.
Upon arriving at the Madrid airport, Spanish Police were there to escort the bounty hunter off the plane. Shortly thereafter Velazquez was observed getting into a brand new Toyota Land Cruiser SUV with his entire family. Velazquez recklessly broke through the Police dragnet after which a high speed chase ensued through the narrow, winding streets of Majadahonda a suburb of Madrid, ending only when Velazquez ran a female SNP agent off the road causing her to crash her motorcycle. Velazquez then fled on foot, the bruised and injured agent was unable to pursue him because a passenger in the fugitives vehicle blocked her as she was getting up from her downed motorcycle.
After a week of searching Madrid's inner neighborhoods and following up on the smallest of leads, the battered bounty hunter returned to the United States empty-handed. Betancourt was determined to finish the case, but in reality he knew, he was starting all over again from day one. After weeks of extensive surveillance of the defendants known associates, and another transatlantic trip, small leads began to trickle in indicating the defendant might still be hiding out in Spain.
After several frustrating weeks of scouring most of the cities in Southern Spain with no results. With some of Betancourts European assets and their arsenal of sophisticated high technology systems he soon discovered that the most likely final destination would be Las Palmas, in the Grand Canary Islands.
Betancourt's hunch proved right, actually arriving in Las Palmas two days ahead of the defendant. After seven days of canvassing targeted neighborhoods throughout the majestic Island and seemingly endless 24 hour street level surveillance, Late afternoon on Thursday August 9th, he spotted the elusive fugitive at a luxurious home in the town of Vecindario just south of the Las Palmas Airport.
Velazquez, now sporting a full mustache in a feeble attempt to change his appearance, was casually talking with a neighbor, dressed in his favorite color of brown as his hunter silently walked passed him confirming it was indeed Velazquez, Betancourt called DEA agents in Miami, Florida who immediately alerted their DEA counterparts and U.S. Embassy officials in Madrid Spain. After an all night surveillance of the defendants hideout the Spanish National Police where dispatched to aid in the apprehension of the defendant. The vehicle was followed and when Spanish Police attempted to stop them a chase ensued covering a distance of several kilometers ending when they made a wrong turn into a dead end street. Velazquez by now a veteran of these situations, again fled with flair, this time running through a cemetery and then jumping onto the back of a passing truck, hanging on for his life, while in hot pursuit was a determined Spanish Police officer who was able to grab him and pull him off the moving truck.
Velazquez and the officer stumbled to the ground, as they scuffled Velazquez attempted several times to disarm the officer, as wayward shots were fired, and Betancort in pursuit. The officer, now fighting for his life eventually was able to subdue the defendant as Betancort arrived, taking him into custody.
Just weeks after posting a $1 million bond, Darli Velazquez skipped bail. Federal authorities were alerted that something was wrong when Velazquezs electronic monitoring bracelet sent a no response signal that the defendant had failed to report home.
Veteran bounty hunter Rolando Betancourt was hired by the bail bond company to track down and capture the fugitive.Betancourt went as far as renting a garbage truck to make un-scheduled garbage runs at the defendants Miami home. One day, fearing they had been spotted, they were forced to pick up the neighbor's garbage down whole length of the street. The early morning garbage runs paid off, amongst the bags of debris were shredded documents that investigators were able to reconstruct yielding a cache of information including used calling cards, bank records, and pages from a First Class in-flight magazine belonging to a European Airline, leading the investigators to believe the defendant was somewhere in Europe, quite possibly the Country of Spain.
After weeks of grueling 24 hour round the clock surveillance of various locations Betancourt received a tip that members of Velazquez's family were planning an overseas trip, he was able to follow the defendants ex-wife to Miami International Airport were she, her two children and other members of the fugitives family had gathered to board an Iberia flight destined for Madrid, Spain. Betancourt always prepared for the un-expected did not hesitate to buy a ticket to Madrid.
Upon arriving at the Madrid airport, Spanish Police were there to escort the bounty hunter off the plane. Shortly thereafter Velazquez was observed getting into a brand new Toyota Land Cruiser SUV with his entire family. Velazquez recklessly broke through the Police dragnet after which a high speed chase ensued through the narrow, winding streets of Majadahonda a suburb of Madrid, ending only when Velazquez ran a female SNP agent off the road causing her to crash her motorcycle. Velazquez then fled on foot, the bruised and injured agent was unable to pursue him because a passenger in the fugitives vehicle blocked her as she was getting up from her downed motorcycle.
After a week of searching Madrid's inner neighborhoods and following up on the smallest of leads, the battered bounty hunter returned to the United States empty-handed. Betancourt was determined to finish the case, but in reality he knew, he was starting all over again from day one. After weeks of extensive surveillance of the defendants known associates, and another transatlantic trip, small leads began to trickle in indicating the defendant might still be hiding out in Spain.
After several frustrating weeks of scouring most of the cities in Southern Spain with no results. With some of Betancourts European assets and their arsenal of sophisticated high technology systems he soon discovered that the most likely final destination would be Las Palmas, in the Grand Canary Islands.
Betancourt's hunch proved right, actually arriving in Las Palmas two days ahead of the defendant. After seven days of canvassing targeted neighborhoods throughout the majestic Island and seemingly endless 24 hour street level surveillance, Late afternoon on Thursday August 9th, he spotted the elusive fugitive at a luxurious home in the town of Vecindario just south of the Las Palmas Airport.
Velazquez, now sporting a full mustache in a feeble attempt to change his appearance, was casually talking with a neighbor, dressed in his favorite color of brown as his hunter silently walked passed him confirming it was indeed Velazquez, Betancourt called DEA agents in Miami, Florida who immediately alerted their DEA counterparts and U.S. Embassy officials in Madrid Spain. After an all night surveillance of the defendants hideout the Spanish National Police where dispatched to aid in the apprehension of the defendant. The vehicle was followed and when Spanish Police attempted to stop them a chase ensued covering a distance of several kilometers ending when they made a wrong turn into a dead end street. Velazquez by now a veteran of these situations, again fled with flair, this time running through a cemetery and then jumping onto the back of a passing truck, hanging on for his life, while in hot pursuit was a determined Spanish Police officer who was able to grab him and pull him off the moving truck.
Velazquez and the officer stumbled to the ground, as they scuffled Velazquez attempted several times to disarm the officer, as wayward shots were fired, and Betancort in pursuit. The officer, now fighting for his life eventually was able to subdue the defendant as Betancort arrived, taking him into custody.