Detectives on the hunt for repeat offender

LEE COUNTY, Fla.- Southwest Florida Crime Stoppers is asking for the public’s help tracking down a repeat offender who’s been dodging the long arm of the law for the last four months.

Eddie Deleon currently faces felony drug charges out of Lee County, and has been able to avoid arrest from several area law enforcement agencies spanning from Hendry County down to Collier County.

Police say he’s been booked nine times locally before, having spent seven months in jail last year alone.

Among his priors are arrests for drugs and burglary, including an incident where he stole an iPhone, among other things, and neglected to notice that there was a GPS app loaded onto the device.

Detectives say Deleon broke into the cars of two brothers, who happened to live next door to each other. When the brothers noticed that their cars had been broken into, they called the Sheriff’s Office and gave a detailed list of the long list of items stolen.

Accessing the GPS app for the stolen iPhone, detectives found that the phone was in Hendry County. They used the tracking device, and went to Deleon’s house.

While one officer was at the door talking to Deleon, a second officer called the iPhone – which started ringing on a table right behind Deleon.  A subsequent search of the house turned up every single item stolen from the two cars in Lee County just hours earlier.

“There is little doubt that Eddie Deleon has left Southwest Florida.  It’s just a matter of finding out where he is and who is helping him avoid arrest,” said Trish Routte, Crime Stoppers Coordinator.  “We want to remind anyone who may be helping Deleon avoid jail time that they, too, could find themselves in jail for aiding and abetting a known and wanted fugitive.”

Deleon is 35 years old and has multiple tattoos, including the phrase “Psycho Deleon” on his neck and praying hands on his chest.

Anyone with information on the whereabouts of Eddie Deleon is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-780-TIPS (8477).  All callers will remain anonymous and will be eligible for a cash reward of up to $1,000.  Tips may also be made online at www.swflcrimestoppers.org or by texting a tip to CRIMES (274637) Keyword: REWARD.