Members of a U.S. Marshals task force survived a deck collapse while serving a warrant at the home of a convicted sex offender in Missouri. The officers had gathered on the deck at the rear of the home when it suddenly gave way, sending several members of the task force tumbling to the ground below.
The subject of the warrant, Jacob Alexander Munoz, 26, was taken into custody later that day, the U.S. Marshals Service said. The injured officers are reportedly recovering, though some may experience lasting effects.
The U.S. Marshals Service said those injured in the collapse are doing well, though some face a longer recovery and could experience lasting effects. "We expect some long-term effects of this incident for a couple of our TFOs [task force officers] and DUSMs [deputy U.S. Marshals] but nothing that will keep them from continuing the mission of the USMS," the agency stated.
Munoz was the subject of a state warrant obtained by the Randolph County Sheriff’s Office after he allegedly stopped complying with the terms and conditions of his release. He is listed on the Missouri State Highway Patrol Sex Offender Registry as a Tier 1 sex offender, with his most recent offense listed as possession of child pornography involving more than 20 images or one film or video. The offense occurred in March 2020, when Munoz was 20 years old, and the victim was identified as a girl between the ages of 9 and 13.
Munoz was convicted in 2022, according to the Marshals Service. Local police had observed multiple guns inside Munoz’s home during an earlier search in 2020, which led to the charges resulting in his conviction. The task force was executing the warrant as part of Operation Adam's Watch, a nationwide U.S. Marshals initiative targeting fugitives whose original charges involved sex crimes. The operation marked the 20th anniversary of the Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act.