A homeowner and his wife confronted a stranger seen on surveillance video, investigators said.
SOUTHWEST RANCHES, Fla. — Police arrested a 19-year-old man after investigators said he tried to steal a white Paso Fino horse from a barn Tuesday morning and ran when the owner confronted him. The horse broke free during the attempt, and officers later found the suspect nearby.
The arrest drew attention in a community where horses are common and barns often sit behind homes on quiet, tree-lined roads. Investigators said the suspect is also tied to another break-in in the area, adding to concerns about property crimes in a rural corner of Broward County.
Surveillance video captured a man entering a barn just before 9:30 a.m. Tuesday, investigators said. The video showed him moving with purpose inside the barn, approaching a white Paso Fino and trying to saddle the animal. The horse resisted. Even after the saddle was placed, the horse managed to pull away and run, leaving the barn area. The commotion, and the unusual sight of a horse loose at that hour, helped alert the homeowner that something was wrong.
Homeowner Frank Espinosa told investigators he had returned from an appointment and noticed one of his horses, Dulcera, roaming in the riding ring at a time she normally would not be out. He said the sight stopped him. He and his wife walked toward the barn and immediately noticed signs of disorder. Equipment was scattered across the property, he said, which raised a fear that someone had been inside and that the animals might have been hurt or taken. Espinosa said the barn holds three horses that he valued at nearly $60,000.
As the couple moved closer, they encountered a man coming out of an equipment room, Espinosa said. The pair confronted him, demanding to know what he was doing there. Espinosa described the man as acting confused and “dazed.” He said the man turned and began walking toward the back of the barn area before suddenly running. Espinosa said he worried not only about theft but also about the risk of injury to the animals if the intruder handled them roughly. “If he hurts one of the animals, then those expenses start adding up,” Espinosa said.
Espinosa followed the man by car while calling police, investigators said. The chase did not last long. Officers with the Davie Police Department arrested the suspect, identified as Marlon Arturo Chay, near Griffin Road and Southwest 184th Avenue, police said. The location is a short drive from the area of large lots and equestrian properties that makes Southwest Ranches distinct from surrounding suburbs. Investigators said the arrest happened shortly after the man fled the barn.
Chay remained in jail as of Wednesday evening on charges that included burglary and resisting arrest, investigators said. Authorities said he immigrated to the United States from Guatemala about four years ago. They said he was being held without bond on an immigration hold. Details about that hold, including which federal agency initiated it and the next steps in immigration court, were not immediately released in the information provided.
Investigators also said Chay is accused of breaking into another home in the area. Police did not publicly outline that second case in detail, including the address, the timing, or whether any property was taken. It also was not immediately clear whether the cases were connected by evidence such as fingerprints, surveillance video, or a witness identification. The allegations, however, added weight to concerns voiced by some residents who keep animals and expensive tack on their properties.
Southwest Ranches has long marketed itself as a horse-friendly town with bridle paths, barns and open space, and many residents say they know their neighbors through the daily rhythm of feeding, riding and cleaning stalls. Espinosa said that closeness is part of what made the incident unsettling. “Definitely something alarming because we are always taking care of our neighbors who have horses,” he said. “These are our children so we take care of them.” He said the thought of someone coming onto the property and trying to take an animal felt personal.
In the video, the horse’s resistance appeared to disrupt the attempted theft, investigators said. Horses can spook, bolt and injure themselves or people when stressed, and owners often say a stranger’s handling can be dangerous. Espinosa said the suspect looked “spaced out” during the confrontation, and he blamed drugs for what he saw. “Stay off the drugs, because he really looked spaced out when I was talking to him,” he said. Police have not released any toxicology results or said whether drug testing was requested.
The investigation is expected to focus on what the suspect did inside the barn before the confrontation and whether any tools, tack or other property was moved or damaged. Investigators also are expected to review additional surveillance footage from nearby homes and roads to track where the suspect came from and whether anyone else was involved. Authorities did not say whether the suspect had a vehicle, a trailer, or any equipment that would have been needed to transport a horse.
For horse owners, the case underscored a basic reality: animals cannot be locked away like electronics, and many barns contain costly saddles and gear. Espinosa said he and his wife feared, in the first moments, that they might find a horse injured. He said seeing equipment scattered was the first sign something had gone wrong. Neighbors in equestrian areas often rely on each other to watch gates and alert one another to suspicious activity, especially in the morning hours when people may be away at work or school.
As of Wednesday evening, Chay was still in custody, and investigators had not announced any additional arrests. The next milestone is his first court appearance on the burglary and resisting arrest charges, along with any separate proceedings related to the immigration hold.
Author note: Last updated February 19, 2026.