WANTED FELON ARRESTED IN DEFUNIAK SPRINGS; FIREARM AND METH FOUND ON PROPERTY
A fugitive wanted out of Okaloosa County was taken into custody without incident following a coordinated effort by members of the U.S. Marshals Service (USMS) in DeFuniak Springs.
On July 21, 2025, Matthew Warren Sweeney, 44, was arrested at his residence on Gershwin Drive on an active warrant related to multiple felony charges out of Okaloosa County, including fleeing and eluding law enforcement.
During a search of the property, law enforcement discovered a .22 caliber rifle and methamphetamine in a shed commonly used by Sweeney. He was ultimately located in the main residence and taken into custody without incident.
In addition to the out-of-county warrant, Sweeney was charged with possession of a controlled substance, possession of narcotic paraphernalia, and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
This arrest was the result of a collaborative effort between members of the U.S. Marshals Florida Caribbean Regional Fugitive Task Force, which includes law enforcement officers from the Walton County Sheriff’s Office, Bay County Sheriff’s Office, Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office, Panama City Police Department, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement.
