Nearly 200 of Baltimore?s most dangerous fugitives were arrested in a recent five-day sting, the largest operation of its kind, law enforcement officials announced Wednesday.
More than 160 officers from 28 federal, state and local agencies scoured the region between Feb. 26 and March 2, arresting 195 fugitives wanted for murder, attempted murder, armed robbery, assault and sex offenses committed in Baltimore City. Those arrests and intelligence gathered during the sweep led to a total of 323 closed cases, said U.S. Attorney Rod Rosenstein.
“We mean business,” Rosenstein said. “We know who you are, we know what you?ve done and we?re going to catch you before you do it again.”
The effort was part of a national initiative within the U.S. Marshals Service called Operation Falcon and required months of collaboration among agencies including the city police department, police in Baltimore, Harford and Anne Arundel counties and the FBI.
More than 80 percent of the fugitives arrested were wanted for violent crimes or had priorconvictions or arrests for violent crimes, officials said. The operation yielded at least 24 gang-related arrests and four of Baltimore?s “most wanted” fugitives.
Police Commissioner Leonard Hamm said authorities compiled a list of about 3,000 open warrants to target. The department did not respond to a request seeking its total number of open warrants by press time.
“This sends the message that we know what we?re doing ? we have a template,” Hamm said. “But this is by no means a victory. I?ve said before, this is a marathon.”
Officers probed attics and chased fugitives through yards during stings 24 hours a day, officials said, nabbing fugitives like Don Armstead, who was wanted in cases of attempted murder, assault, robbery, reckless endangerment and destruction of property.
OPERATION FALCON BY THE NUMBERS
» 6 arrested for murder or attempted murder
» 86 arrested for robbery, assault or other violent crimes
» 6 arrested for sex offenses
» 25-plus arrested for narcotics offenses
» 24 gang-related arrests
» 4 Baltimore?s Most Wanted fugitives
Source: U.S. Attorney, District of Maryland
