Operation Patriot results in 153 arrests in four counties
RALEIGH â€" Law enforcement and public safety officers arrested 153 individuals during a multi-agency enforcement operation named “Operation Patriot” which covered four counties during the period March 17-19.
(Media-Newswire.com) - RALEIGH – Law enforcement and public safety officers arrested 153 individuals during a multi-agency enforcement operation named “Operation Patriot” which covered four counties during the period March 17-19. The operation focused on Cumberland, Onslow, Wayne and New Hanover counties with the goal of reducing crime in areas where members of the Armed Forces and their families reside. Federal, state and local officers worked to serve and clear outstanding warrants, locate probation and parole absconders and conduct compliance checks and searches on high-risk probationers.
Officers served 315 outstanding warrants during the operation and conducted 238 searches of probationers and/or their residences. Four firearms were seized along with varying amounts of heroin, cocaine and marijuana, and $4,200 in currency.
More than 230 officers participated in the operation over the course of three days. Agencies involved included the U.S. Marshals Violent Fugitive Task Force for Eastern NC, North Carolina Department of Public Safety, Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office, Onslow County Sheriff’s Office, Wayne County Sheriff’s Office, New Hanover County Sheriff’s Office, Fayetteville Police Department, Wilmington Police Department, Goldsboro Police Department, Mt. Olive Police Department and the Fremont Police Department.
“During Operation Patriot, the United States Marshals Service Eastern District of North Carolina utilized all resources available in order to assist their partners, the North Carolina Department of Public Safety and local police departments and sheriff’s offices, to seek out individuals attempting to avoid prosecution,” said United States Marshal Scott J. Parker. “This operation was a complete success in working to eliminate the criminal element which plagued our community and state, and ensured that these individuals are held accountable for their actions.”
“Collaborative efforts like these with our local and federal partners help ensure that those on probation and parole abide by their supervision terms and understand that their illegal activities will not be tolerated in our communities,” said Secretary Frank L. Perry, of the North Carolina Department of Public Safety. “We are grateful for the support and involvement of the local police, sheriffs and the U.S. Marshals in locating wanted persons and building safer communities.”
Additionally, members of the NCDPS Prison Emergency Response Team along with intelligence officers and members of drug interdiction teams and dogs trained to search for narcotics and cell phones, conducted searches of two prison facilities: Pasquotank Correctional Institution in Elizabeth City and Craven Correctional Institution in Vanceboro. While the searches did not reveal major contraband issues at the prisons, officers were able to gather and analyze a significant amount of intelligence on gang and criminal activity.
During the operation, officers also assisted in the response to a bank robbery that occurred in Goldsboro and located child pornography on one offender’s mobile device.
###
Contact: Diana Kees Date: March 23, 2015 Phone: 919-733-5027
Related Content
Published by:
Release Date
This story was released on 2015-03-26. Please make sure to visit the official company or organization web site to learn more about the original release date. See our disclaimer for additional information.