Pittsburgh, PA – Following a 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 15 – 21. Led by the U.S. Marshal Service, Operation FALCON is a nationwide law enforcement effort.

Operation FALCON 2008–Western Pennsylvania combined the collective efforts of 41 law enforcement agencies in one of the area’s largest-ever fugitive initiatives. Efforts were focused on capturing individuals wanted on felony charges including gang members, sexual offenders and fugitives wanted for crimes of violence.

Over the course of the seven-day operation, Deputy U.S. Marshals, teamed with federal, state, and local law enforcement partners, arrested 107 fugitives – including a Pittsburgh man charged with homicide, nine sex offenders and three documented gang members – and cleared 132 warrants. Over $70,000, two firearms, 153 stamp bags of heroin and approximately 100 grams of crack cocaine were also seized. Two arrests highlight the goal of this operation.

Timothy Williams, a fugitive wanted by the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police Homicide Squad, was arrested June 20 by Operation FALCON team members. Williams, a Northside native, allegedly shot and killed Kenneth Woods June 16 in the 2000 block of Bentley Dr in the Hill District. Within a day of receiving the request for assistance, FALCON team members were able to develop information placing Williams at a house located in the 1100 block of 9th St in Stowe Twp. Williams was arrested by FALCON team members without incident.

Edward Sommers, a fugitive wanted by the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police Sex Assaults Squad, was arrested June 18 by FALCON team members. Sommers was wanted for allegedly raping and beating two victims in separate incidents. The two rapes allegedly occurred on the Northside June 3 and June 10. Again, within a day of receiving a request to locate the fugitive, FALCON team members developed information, located and arrested Sommers without incident in the Lower Hill section of Pittsburgh.

“Operation FALCON continues to be a testament to the success of United States Marshals Service cooperation with its state and local partners,” said Thomas M. Fitzgerald, U.S. Marshal for the Western District of Pennsylvania. “Significant to this operation is the fact that the expansion of our fugitive task force structure to the outlying areas of the district paid tremendous dividends. Forty-three percent of the FALCON arrests came from the efforts of our local partners in the Johnstown, Altoona and Erie areas.”

Operation FALCON 2008- Western Pennsylvania established operations out of Pittsburgh, Erie, and Johnstown. Agencies assisting in the Pittsburgh area included: United States Marshals Service, Pennsylvania State Police, Pennsylvania Board of Probation and Parole, Allegheny County Sheriff, Allegheny County Police, Allegheny County Juvenile Probation, Pittsburgh Bureau of Police, Washington County Sheriff, Westmoreland County Sheriff, New Kensington Police Department, Arnold Police Department, United States Postal Inspector, and United States Attorney’s Office. Agencies assisting in the Erie area included: United States Marshals Service, Pennsylvania State Police, Pennsylvania Board of Probation and Parole, Erie County Sheriff, Erie County District Attorney, Erie Police Department and United States Attorney’s Office. Agencies assisting in the Johnstown are included: Pennsylvania State Police, Pennsylvania Board of Probation and Parole, Pennsylvania Attorney General, Bedford County Sheriff, Blair County Sheriff, Blair County Probation, Blair County 911, Cambria County Sheriff, Cambria County Probation, Clearfield County Sheriff, Indiana County Sheriff, Somerset County Sheriff, Allegheny Township Police Department, Altoona Police Department, Bellwood Police Department, Blair Township Police Department, Duncansville Police Department, Ebensburg Police Department, Greenfield Township Police Department, Hollidaysburg Police Department, Logan Twp Police Department, Martinsburg Police Department, Punxsutawney Police Department, Roaring Spring Police Department, Tyrone Police Department, Williamsburg Police Department and 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

 

America’s Oldest Federal Law Enforcement Agency