Local News
Most Wanted West Texas Gang Member Caught In Midland
Ronnie Matthew Velarde, a 37-year-old West Texas gang member listed on Texas' Most Wanted Fugitive list since May 2026, was arrested in Midland after an anonymous tip led the Texas Department of Public Safety to his location. Velarde had been wanted for parole violations tied to burglary and organized criminal activity charges, with a criminal record stretching back to at least 2008.
Velarde had been wanted for parole violations tied to burglary and organized criminal activity charges, with a criminal record stretching back to at least 2008. His history also includes evading arrest, theft, and manufacturing or possession of a controlled substance. He had been sentenced to prison multiple times before his most recent parole release in April.
For people across the South Plains, the arrest is a reminder that tips from ordinary people can move cases that might otherwise stall. DPS credited the capture directly to a concerned citizen who called in the tip, not a surveillance operation or routine patrol.
Velarde's parole violations alone were enough to land him on a statewide fugitive list, a designation typically reserved for individuals considered a serious public safety risk.
Common questions
Who is Ronnie Velarde and why was he wanted?
- Ronnie Matthew Velarde is a 37-year-old West Texas gang member who had been on Texas' Most Wanted Fugitive list since May 2026. He was wanted for parole violations connected to burglary and organized criminal activity, with a criminal history dating back to at least 2008 that includes theft and drug charges.
How did police catch Ronnie Velarde?
- An anonymous tip from a concerned citizen led the Texas Department of Public Safety directly to Velarde's location in Midland. DPS credited the capture entirely to that tip, highlighting how ordinary people calling in information can break open cases that might otherwise stall for months.
What is Velarde's criminal history?
- Velarde's record stretches back to at least 2008 and includes burglary, organized criminal activity, evading arrest, theft, and manufacturing or possession of a controlled substance. He had been sentenced to prison multiple times before his most recent parole release in April 2026.
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