Merle Wakefield wanted on felony warrant after removing GPS device

Merle Wakefield, a sexually violent predator supervised under the State’s Conditional Release Program, is the subject of a felony arrest warrant issued on October 2, 2026, after his GPS tracking device entered tamper mode in Rancho Bernardo and was subsequently removed, according to the San Diego County Sheriff’s Office.

Rancho Bernardo GPS Alert Triggers Multi-Agency Search

The sequence of events began on September 25, 2026. Around 3:30 a.m. that morning, the GPS monitoring equipment assigned to Wakefield registered an alert for tamper mode while he was in the Rancho Bernardo area.

Upon arrival, Liberty Healthcare staff discovered that the tracking unit had been physically detached from Wakefield and that he was no longer present at the location. The organization immediately notified both the San Diego County Sheriff’s Office and the San Diego Police Department of the breach.

Investigators from the San Diego Sexual Assault Felony Enforcement Task Force joined local authorities in the search efforts. On October 2, 2026, formal legal action advanced when a court issued a felony warrant for Wakefield’s arrest, citing both the failure to maintain mandatory sex offender registration and violations governing the terms of his conditional release.

Suspect Has Prior Convictions for Rape and Child Abuse

He sustained convictions in 1980 and 1991 for committing lewd or lascivious acts with a child under the age of 14, as well as separate convictions for rape by force.

Police Warn Public Not to Approach Wakefield

Law enforcement officials have issued explicit safety directives regarding the suspect. Authorities warn that if members of the public spot Wakefield, they should not approach or attempt contact under any circumstances, but should instead dial 9-1-1 or contact local law enforcement immediately.

Investigators describe Wakefield as standing 5 feet 10 inches tall and weighing 230 pounds, with a bald head and brown eyes. To accelerate the ongoing manhunt, San Diego County Crime Stoppers activated a reward program offering up to $1,000 for verified details resulting in his capture.

The SAFE Task Force is receiving direct intelligence at (858) 868-3200, while anonymous tips can be directed to the Crime Stoppers line at (888) 580-8477 or submitted electronically through the organization’s web portal.