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Detroit, MI – As did the previous two FALCON
(Federal and Local Cops Organized Nationally)
operations hosted by the U.S. Marshals in Detroit,
FALCON Detroit 2008 had its moments, including a
roof hopper, a drive by homicide, and a hostage
situation. However, in these, and others, no
officers where hurt and the bad guys were all
caught. U.S. Marshal Robert M. Grubbs, the U.S.
Marshal for the Eastern District of Michigan, is
proud to announce that Operation FALCON which ran in
Detroit from June 17-19 in the Detroit Metropolitan
area was another great success. The U.S. Marshal-led
operation netted 259 violent fugitives. The Marshals
share this accomplishment with numerous local,
state, and federal agencies that dedicated more than
70 officers to assist with this three day round up.
“I applaud the achievements of every deputy Marshal,
police officer, detective, trooper, investigator,
deputy sheriff, and special agent who hit the
streets and literally risked their lives to take
people off the streets with outstanding warrants,
especially those with violent crimes, in order to
make this a safer community”, said U.S. Marshal
Robert M. Grubbs.
One such individual was Gary Ellinson. Ellinson was
wanted on three separate felony warrants for armed
robbery of a motor vehicle (car jacking). When
officers attempted to arrest him back in April he
fled and struck a Detroit Police officer with his
vehicle. On June 17, deputies and other officers
working Operation FALCON located him at a house on
St. Clair in the city of Detroit. However, that was
only the beginning. Ellinson, again, tried to make a
break for it by scampering out an upstairs window
and began jumping from roof to roof. However, seeing
that he was completely surrounded with no avenue of
escape, he retreated back to where he started, and
then bolted out of the front door with officers in
pursuit. While in the process of jumping a fence a
deputy marshal deployed his issued taser. The taser
immediately incapacitated Mr. Ellinson, who was
promptly placed into custody.
Another significant incident occurred at 3:30pm on
June 18 when FALCON command staff received word of a
drive by shooting fatality. Less than five hours
later, at approximately 8:00 p.m., two FALCON teams
arrested a suspect for that homicide at an address
in the city.
On June 19 at approximately 3:30 p.m., a FALCON unit
came over the radio and reported that while
attempting to execute a state parole warrant for
Isaac McKee at an address on the east side of
Detroit, McKee had locked himself in a house with a
nine-month-old baby. Additional FALCON units arrived
on the scene and held a perimeter until Detroit’s
SWAT team made the location. Four hours later, SWAT
made entry into the residence and found the baby in
its crib in an upstairs bedroom unharmed and found
McKee hiding behind a wall underneath insulation in
the attic. Approximately 200 suspected marijuana
plants were confiscated along with over $3,000 in
U.S. currency and a 2005 Jeep.
“The Wayne County Sheriff’s Office and the U.S.
Marshals have worked together for many years and
taken thousands of dangerous fugitives off the
streets. This partnership has helped to make our
community much safer for its residents,” said Wayne
County Sheriff, Warren Evans.
“This operation, provides a clear indication of what
law enforcement agencies can accomplish when there
is cooperation on all levels – federal, state, and
local,” said Marshal Robert M. Grubbs. “When we
share information and pool our resources toward a
common goal, the results are safer communities for
our families and a more secure society.”
Operation FALCON – Detroit was comprised of over 70
law enforcement agents from 12 contributing agencies
in the Detroit Metropolitan area. The agencies
involved in the operation were the Wayne County
Sheriff’s Office, Oakland County Sheriff’s Office,
Detroit Police Department, Livonia Police
Department, Sterling Heights Police Department,
Michigan State Police, Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco and
Firearms (BATF), Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA),
Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Social
Security Administration (SSA), and the United States
Attorney’s Office.
Since its inception in 2005, Operation FALCON has
made over 36,500 arrests and cleared over 45,300
warrants. It continues to be the largest and most
successful fugitive apprehension effort in U.S.
Marshals history.
For more information on Operation FALCON, visit
http://www.usmarshals.gov/falcon08/media.htm.
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