Palatka, FL – A Putnam County Sheriff’s Office bailiff has been arrested and fired after authorities learned he was wanted in Georgia on two felony warrants connected to an alleged check fraud investigation.
According to the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office, Warren Zapata, 34, was arrested while at work on Tuesday, July 14, 2026, on two out-of-state felony warrants issued by the Perry Police Department in Georgia.
Investigators said the warrants stem from an alleged forgery of a check related to a check fraud scheme involving the Georgia National Fairgrounds that dates back to August 2025 in Perry, Georgia.
The sheriff’s office said Zapata was interviewed by Perry investigators in February 2026, but allegedly did not disclose that he was employed in law enforcement or inform his supervisors that he was involved in a criminal investigation. Authorities said an arrest warrant was issued in March, but the sheriff’s office was not notified at that time.
According to the agency, detectives became aware of the outstanding warrants after being contacted by a third party involved in the case. Deputies then confirmed the warrants with the Perry Police Department and arrested Zapata at his workplace.
Sheriff H.D. “Gator” DeLoach said in a statement that Zapata’s employment has been terminated following his felony arrest. The sheriff’s office said Zapata had been employed by the agency since 2018 and had no prior disciplinary actions on record.
Zapata was booked into the Putnam County Jail without bond pending extradition to Georgia.
The Perry Police Department is leading the investigation. The charges are allegations, and Zapata is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.
