Eric Matthews Dawson, 30, is back behind bars after an intensive multi-agency manhunt. Dawson, who had pled guilty to the continuous sexual abuse of a child under 14, cut off his GPS ankle monitor and fled ahead of his September 16 sentencing date. Investigators say he traveled through New Mexico and crossed into Mexico in an effort to evade capture. Originally arrested on July 26, 2023, at 9130 West Road and released on a $250,000 bond, Dawson’s disappearance triggered an urgent search led by the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office. Authorities confirmed he is now in custody at the Polk County Sheriff’s Office, and further details about the circumstances of his arrest are expected as the investigation continues.
