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De Beque Today
By the People, for the People
Man with $1 Million Warrant for Kidnapping Arrested in Mesa County
23-year-old Francisco Vargas from Texas was taken into custody after a multi-agency search.
Published on Mar. 11, 2026
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The Mesa County Sheriff's Office arrested a man with a nationwide $1 million cash-only warrant for second-degree kidnapping. 23-year-old Francisco Vargas from Texas was traveling through Mesa County with an endangered 15-year-old female when he was located and apprehended at a gas station in De Beque, Colorado.
Why it matters
The arrest of Vargas, who had an outstanding warrant for a serious felony, demonstrates the importance of law enforcement coordination and cooperation across jurisdictions to locate and apprehend wanted suspects. The case also highlights the ongoing issue of kidnapping and the need for vigilance to protect vulnerable individuals.
The details
Multiple law enforcement agencies, including the Mesa County Sheriff's Office, Colorado State Patrol, and De Beque Marshal, were searching for Vargas and the 15-year-old female after being informed of the nationwide warrant. Deputies located Vargas' vehicle, a 2007 Black GMC Yukon with a Texas license plate, at a gas station in De Beque and took him into custody without incident. The juvenile was safely located.
- On Monday, deputies were informed about the wanted man and the endangered abducted 15-year-old female.
- Before 11 p.m. on Monday, deputies located the Yukon at a gas station in De Beque.
The players
Francisco Vargas
A 23-year-old man from Texas who had a nationwide $1 million cash-only warrant for second-degree kidnapping.
Mesa County Sheriff's Office
The law enforcement agency that arrested Vargas and coordinated with other agencies in the search.
Colorado State Patrol
One of the law enforcement agencies that assisted in the search for Vargas and the 15-year-old female.
De Beque Marshal
One of the law enforcement agencies that assisted in the search for Vargas and the 15-year-old female.
Garfield County Sheriff's Office
One of the law enforcement agencies that assisted in the search for Vargas and the 15-year-old female.
What they’re saying
“The location and arrest of Pegueros was a combined effort between the Mesa County Sheriff's Office, Colorado State Patrol, De Beque Marshal and Garfield County Sheriff's Office. The seamless coordination is a direct result of excellent working relationships between our community law enforcement partners.”
— Mesa County Sheriff's Office (Press Release)
What’s next
The case remains under investigation, and no further details about the alleged kidnapping or the incident are known at this time.
The takeaway
This arrest highlights the importance of law enforcement cooperation across jurisdictions to locate and apprehend wanted suspects, especially in cases involving serious felonies like kidnapping. The successful coordination between multiple agencies demonstrates the value of strong working relationships between community law enforcement partners.
