The law finally caught up with 31-year-old Zachary Walden, a wanted fugitive with a long history of run-ins with the justice system. Officers nabbed Walden just before noon in the 2100 block of Vinton Avenue, putting an end to his time on the run.
Walden, who listed his address as homeless in his last court appearance, had a warrant out for his arrest after violating probation from a 2023 escape conviction. He originally pleaded no contest, dodging hard time when Judge Steven Mowery handed him a 180-day jail sentence, only to suspend it in favor of probation. But when Walden broke the rules, the court issued a warrant in March 2024.
This isn’t his first brush with the law. In 2022, he pleaded no contest to theft, receiving a suspended 30-day sentence with an order to stay away from Speedway and complete community service after attending in-patient treatment.
But that’s not all—Walden also racked up charges for violating a protection order in April 2021 and September 2022. Judge Mowery gave him 76 days in jail, but 65 were suspended, leaving him to complete community service instead.
Now, after dodging authorities, Walden is back behind bars, booked into the Scioto County Jail. The question remains: Will this be the time he finally faces real consequences?
