Savannah, GA – Following a four-year tradition of success in its national efforts, the U.S. Marshals Service locally conducted another successful Operation FALCON (Federal and Local Cops Organized Nationally) from June 9– 14. Led by the U.S. Marshals Service, Operation FALCON 2008 netted 292 arrests within the Southern District of Georgia.

Operation FALCON combined the collective efforts of multiple law enforcement agencies in one of the area’s largest-ever fugitive initiatives, focusing on capturing individuals wanted on felony charges including sexual predators and fugitives wanted for crimes of violence. Over the course of the six-day operation, Deputy U.S. Marshals, teamed with federal, state, and local law enforcement partners, arrested 292 fugitives, including 13 sex offenders, and cleared 411 warrants in the 43 counties that make up the Southern District of Georgia.

Marcus Davis was a fugitive wanted by the Waycross Police Department for Financial Identification Fraud and 2 counts of Executing Checks with Fictitious Information. A team of Deputy U.S. Marshals, with fellow law enforcement officers, arrested Davis June 10 after a brief foot chase following his jump from a window in his mother’s home. The following day, his mother, Gilbertine Davis, was arrested for Hindering the Apprehension of a Criminal for allegedly assisting her son in his efforts to elude capture. As she had previously been informed of the outstanding warrants and advised not to assist or hide her son, she was also terminated from employment with a local county.

Rodney Arrington was arrested on June 12 in Augusta following a lengthy foot chase on Fort Gordon after he jumped from his vehicle and fled through base housing complexes. Arrington was wanted by the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office for Theft by Taking. Charges for Fleeing and Attempting to Elude Officers are pending.

Gregory Foreman Jr. was arrested on June 10 in Brunswick by a FALCON team preparing to enter another address. Foreman saw the police activity and fled the area prompting the Falcon team to follow him. A Georgia State Patrol marked unit pulled him over 3 blocks from the initial scene and performed a license check. The drug dog with the team was called to the vehicle because of the strong odor of marijuana and alerted on the vehicle. Several bags of marijuana, $1020 in US currency and a .40 caliber pistol were found following the search. Foreman faces several charges from this arrest as well as three traffic offenses.

“From the outset, Operation FALCON has proved how much can be accomplished when we combine resources at the federal, state and local levels,” said John F. Clark, Director of the U.S. Marshals Service. “This operation is not possible without the unique talents and dedication that each participating agency brings to the table.”

Operation FALCON consisted of approximately 290 federal, state, and local law enforcement officers, making up 13 separate arrest teams working throughout the six-day period. Each participating local officer was sworn in as a Special Deputy U.S. Marshal immediately prior to the start of this operation. This special authority empowered them to cross traditional lines of jurisdiction to track down and arrest targeted fugitives throughout the week.

Edmund A. Booth, Jr., the United States Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia commented on the success of the fugitive apprehension operation by noting that the citizens in the Southern District of Georgia are now much safer. Booth said that “by removing these fugitives from our streets we help create a safer environment so that our citizens can more safely live and work in their communities .”

“The cooperation and enthusiasm of law enforcement agencies in the Southern District of Georgia has always been incredible,” said U.S. Marshal Tom Roberts. “We are facing new challenges in law enforcement and must always adapt to overcome sometimes overwhelming odds when faced with the criminal element that places our communities in danger. With our law enforcement partners, law enforcement at all levels is dedicated to a safer Georgia, nation and world and it shows in this tremendous success.”

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 about Operation FALCON, visit http://www.usmarshals.gov/falcon08/media.htm

 

America’s Oldest Federal Law Enforcement Agency