Over 90 Fugitives Arrested in Baton Rouge During Operation FALCON

BATON ROUGE – In one of the largest fugitive initiatives ever undertaken in the Baton Rouge area, the U.S. Marshals Service, teamed with law enforcement agencies from throughout the Capital Area, arrested 91 fugitives and cleared 153 warrants during a recent six-day, nine Parish sweep.

The arrests took place from July 9-14 as part of efforts associated with Operation FALCON (Federal and Local Cops Organized Nationally) - Baton Rouge. This year’s operation targeted persons wanted for sexual offenses, violent crimes and narcotics violations. This is the third consecutive year that the U.S. Marshals Service has conducted the FALCON operations throughout the country.

Of the 91 fugitives arrested, 23 were wanted for sexual offenses. Among those arrested was alleged sex offender William Caldwell. Caldwell, 65, of St. Francisville, was arrested by a team of investigators on 192 counts of sexual battery and molestation of a juvenile. Caldwell is alleged to have committed these offenses against a young victim in West Feliciana Parish over a seven-year-period. Also arrested was Brian Pankey, 25, of Gonzales, wanted by the Ascension Parish Sheriff’s Office for indecent behavior with a juvenile. Pankey is alleged to have committed these acts against a 10-year-old victim who was in his care. Pankey was located in Casper, Wyo., and was arrested there by U.S. Marshals after receiving a request for assistance by Baton Rouge investigators. Pankey is in custody awaiting extradition back to Louisiana.

Dozens of arrests targeted Baton Rouge-area fugitives that were wanted for serious crimes of violence. Shelton Payne, 35, of Baton Rouge, was brought into custody based on an arrest warrant by the Baton Rouge Police Department for two counts of cruelty to a juvenile. Payne is accused of beating his two juvenile sons with a wooden broom handle after they were caught shoplifting from a local store. Investigators believe that after the broom handle broke during the beatings, Payne grabbed a metal mop handle to continue the abuse. Both victims required medical attention and were taken to an area hospital for treatment.

Another Baton Rouge resident, Timothy Jones, 44, was arrested on a warrant issued by the Baton Rouge Police Department for aggravated second degree battery and aggravated burglary. Jones is accused of hiding outside the victim’s house and waiting for him to exit the residence.

When the victim left the house, Jones confronted him and pointed a handgun in his face. The victim grabbed the gun and a struggle ensued. After breaking free from Jones, the victim ran back into the house. Jones caught the victim and stuck him in the head several times until he was unconscious. FALCON investigators developed information about where Jones was working and located him on a job site. Jones was taken into custody without incident.

“In the past two years, Operation FALCON has been extremely successful in apprehending the worst criminals in the Capital Area - this year was no different. The efforts of the past week can only serve as confirmation of how effective we can be when law enforcement agencies work together to achieve a common goal,” said Carey Jenkins, U.S. Marshal for the Middle District of Louisiana.

Operation FALCON – Baton Rouge was comprised of over 30 law enforcement agents from 15 contributing agencies in the Capital Area. The agencies involved in the operation were the Ascension Parish Sheriff’s Office, Baton Rouge Police Department, East Baton Rouge Parish Sheriff’s Office, East Feliciana Parish Sheriff’s Office, Iberville Parish Sheriff’s Office, Livingston Parish Sheriff’s Office, Louisiana Attorney General’s Office, Louisiana Probation and Parole, Louisiana State Police, Point Coupee Parish Sheriff’s Office, United States Probation Office, West Baton Rouge Parish Sheriff’s Office, and West Feliciana Parish Sheriff’s Office.

The U.S. Marshals Service also coordinates the Middle Louisiana Fugitive Task Force, a multi-agency task force that targets persons wanted for violent crimes, narcotic offenses, and sexual offenders in the Capital area and surrounding Parishes. Contributing agencies are the Baton Rouge Police Department, East Baton Rouge Parish Sheriff’s Office, West Baton Rouge Sheriff’s Offices, and the Louisiana State Probation and Parole.

Led by the U.S. Marshal Service, Operation FALCON is an ongoing, multi-city, nationwide law enforcement effort. To date since July, Operation FALCON 2007 has netted 740 arrests and cleared 868 warrants in four operations.

Since its inception in 2005, Operation FALCON has made over 30,000 arrests and cleared over 38,000 warrants. It continues to be the largest and most successful fugitive apprehension effort in U.S. Marshals history.

For more information about the U.S. Marshals Service, visit http://www.usmarshals.gov/district/la-m/index.html.

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