Muskogee, OK – In one of the largest fugitive initiatives ever undertaken in the Muskogee area, the U.S. Marshals, teamed with law enforcement agencies throughout eastern Oklahoma, arrested 290 fugitives and cleared 493 warrants during a recent week-long 10 county sweep. U.S. Marshals locally conducted another successful Operation FALCON (Federal and Local Cops Organized Nationally) from June 9-13, the fifth of its kind, here in Eastern Oklahoma. Operation FALCON is a fugitive apprehension operation combining the resources of federal, state, city and county law enforcement agencies to locate and apprehend criminals wanted for crimes of violence. The targets for this Operation FALCON were violent offenders, gang members and sex offenders.

By utilizing the expertise and the capabilities of 33 participating law enforcement agencies, the operation ended with huge results. Of the 290 fugitives arrested, 14 were wanted for weapons violations, 108 narcotics arrests, and four non-compliant sexual offenders. Items seized during the operation included one sawed off shotgun, a large Marijuana plant, approximately two grams of Methamphetamine, approximately $1,500 in cash and digital scales.

“Historically the U.S. Marshals have proven that when it partners with other federal, state and local law enforcement we have outstanding success, particularly here in Eastern Oklahoma,” said John Loyd, U.S. Marshal for the Eastern District of Oklahoma. “All of the agencies in our 26 county district are small by national standards and do not routinely have the resources at their disposal that they have during the course of these operations. You can see the results. Our best weapon in this element of the war on crime is the individual officer. He or she has strong local ties, which developed as they have grown up in these areas and have established long standing intimate knowledge and emotional attachments to the people in these communities. They know where to go and who to talk to.”

“The goal of Operation FALCON is simple – to make communities safer,” said John F. Clark, Director of the U.S. Marshals Service. “Each time we wrap up a FALCON operation in any location, there are less dangerous individuals – and fewer threats to the community – than there were when we got there. That is very gratifying.”

Operation FALCON – Muskogee consisted of over 150 federal, state, and local law enforcement officers, making up dozens of separate arrest teams working throughout the five-day period. When necessary, each participating local officer was sworn in as a Special Deputy U.S. Marshal immediately prior to the start of the operation. This special authority empowered them to cross traditional lines of jurisdiction to track down and arrest targeted fugitives throughout the week.

Agencies contributing to Muskogee’s Operation FALCON included the U.S. Marshals Service, Muskogee Police Department, U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Muskogee County Sheriff, Wagoner County Sheriff, Wagoner Police Department, Coweta Police Department, Porter Police Department, Cherokee County Sheriff, Tahlequah Police Department, District 27 Drug Task Force, Vian Police Department, Adair County Sheriff, Drug Enforcement Administration, Leflore County Sheriff, District 16 DA Task Force, Poteau Police Department, Pontotoc County Sheriff, Ada Police Department, Chickasaw Light Horse Police, DA Drug Taskforce Pontotoc County, Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics, Pushmataha County Sheriff, Choctaw County Sheriff, Hugo Police Department, District 17 DA Drug Task Force, Oklahoma Department of Corrections, Carter County Sheriff, Ardmore Police Department, Coal County Sheriff, Oklahoma Highway Patrol, U.S. Attorney’s Office, and OK-Department of Human Services-Office of Inspector General.

Since its inception in 2005, Operation FALCON has made over 36,500 arrests and cleared more than 45,300 warrants. It continues to be the largest and most successful fugitive apprehension effort in U.S. Marshals history.

Media can find more information on Operation FALCON at http://www.usmarshals.gov/falcon08/media.htm
 

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