During a five-day operation throughout Southeastern Arizona, U.S. Marshals led a task force that targeted violent fugitives, netting 72 arrests in the process.
Eighteen law enforcement agencies across the state participated in Operation Southern Star IV, focusing on fugitives with outstanding warrants for violent crimes and drug offenses in Pima, Graham and Cochise counties.
Of the 72 arrests, 31 were made in Pima County on Sept. 14-15, before the operation moved to the other counties, said Deputy U.S. Marshal Nate Alexander.
There were 20 arrests in Cochise County and 21 arrests in Graham County.
One of those arrested was a convicted bank robber who escaped from an Alabama prison work crew; two others were wanted in connection with a drive-by shooting in Tucson.
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There are more than 50 marshals assigned to the Tucson office, with about 30 of them participating as members of the Arizona WANTED Task Force in Tucson.
WANTED is comprised of local, state and federal law enforcement agencies, including U.S. Border Patrol, Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the Arizona Department of Corrections, and led by the Marshals Service, Alexander said.
Special operations of this nature happen several times a year, targeting different types of fugitives who pose a risk to the community, Alexander said.
However, because of the limited time to prepare for such sweeps, they require a more expedient investigation to gather intelligence than the marshals generally have to research cases, Alexander said.
Some of the stops result in what Alexander referred to as “knock and talks,” which may lead to new information about a fugitive’s whereabouts.
But on Sept. 15, task force officers headed out before 7 a.m. and as of 9 a.m. two fugitives had been taken in custody.
During the second stop that morning, the team went to an apartment on Tucson’s north side, seeking a man wanted for a corrections department parole violation on charges of criminal damage.
Eight marshals set up around the front door of the apartment, on alert as one knocked on the door persistently, announcing their presence.
The door opened and a man was escorted out of the house, having been identified as the target, while six of the marshals entered the apartment, checking for other occupants.
While being handcuffed, the fugitive cast his eyes downwards as he quietly answered questions and a marshal brought him a pair of shoes before he was taken to the state prison. Not all of the warrants issued are out of Pima County, with many of them coming from the state or federal level.
As the marshals circled up to discuss the next stop, a slight breeze filtered through the unseasonably cool air, which is more of a relief to them than the average citizen. The tactical vests they all wear can weigh upwards of 45 pounds and are especially uncomfortable in the Arizona heat, one of the marshals said.
The next location also resulted in an arrest, as the team set up a perimeter around a house situated in a quiet neighborhood, looking for a fugitive with a warrant for failure to appear on a possession charge.
As the door opened, one of the marshals could be heard urging someone to come out. Wearing no shirt and with earbuds around hanging from his neck, a sleepy and confused young man exited the house.
He was placed in handcuffs while marshals tried to get clear directions from him as to where they might find his shirt. He requested someone get his wallet, but after he was unable to tell them where it was, one of the marshals asked him if he was on something.
While a member of the team tried to get in touch with the young man’s mother, he tried to explain why he didn’t appear for his court date, saying he was fearful of losing his job.
With the operation over, Tucson’s marshals office went back to business as usual Wednesday, researching cases, handling federal warrants and searching for criminals. But plans are being made to have at least one other operation before the end of the year.
