Special to Sapulpa Times from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Oklahoma
On Friday, the U.S. Marshals’ Northern Oklahoma Violent Crimes Task Force finalized a five-day operation targeting fugitives wanted for violent criminal offenses in Creek County, announced U.S. Attorney Trent Shores. As part of the operation, the U.S. Attorney’s Office provided legal guidance to the task force as needed and reviewed cases of federal interest.
The task force was divided into three teams to serve the warrants throughout the county during the week. The task force, which includes deputies from the Creek County Sheriff’s Office, cleared 41 warrants, arrested 34 violent offenders, and seized five firearms during Operation Fallback. Many of the violent offenders had arrest warrants issued resulting from domestic battery charges. Methamphetamine, marijuana, and drug paraphernalia were also found during the operation.
“Today, 34 violent offenders have been apprehended as a result of Operation Fallback,” said U.S. Attorney Trent Shores. “Violent crime continues to be a priority for my office and the Department of Justice. Our Project Safe Neighborhoods initiative leverages the law enforcement resources in our district to get the most violent criminals off the streets. I appreciate the brave work performed by the U.S. Marshals Service and the local, state, tribal and federal task force officers who serve on the Northern Oklahoma Violent Crimes Task Force. The U.S. Attorney’s Office remains committed to keeping Oklahomans safe.”
“This was a joint effort with the Creek County Sheriff’s Office and the U.S. Marshals Service to provide assistance in apprehending the county’s most violent criminals and making the community a safer place,” said Northern District of Oklahoma U.S. Marshal Clayton Johnson.
“The sheriff’s office was happy to be part of an operation that allows us to find and arrest the people that plague our county with crime. I am grateful to U.S. Attorney Trent Shores and the U.S. Marshals for working diligently to help bring these people to justice,” said Creek County Sheriff Bret Bowling.
The U.S. Marshals’ Mobile Command Center (MCC) was deployed to the county this week to assist in the operation. Mobile Command Centers are response vehicles that facilitate the U.S. Marshals’ ability to expand command and control capabilities to remote locations in national emergencies or for other operations. The vehicles were built to be easy to operate in order to allow for quick deployment with minimum personnel. Full interoperable communications are a standard for these vehicles.
The U.S. Marshals Northern Oklahoma Violent Crimes Task Force is comprised of members from multiple agencies across the Northern District of Oklahoma. Members are from the Creek County Sheriff’s Office; Tulsa County Sheriff’s Office, Delaware County Sheriff’s Office, Broken Arrow Police Department, Owasso Police Department, Quapaw Tribal Police, Oklahoma Highway Patrol, Oklahoma Department of Corrections, Oklahoma Attorney General’s Office, U.S. Customs and Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
Operation Fallout was part of the Justice Department’s Project Safe Neighborhoods initiative, a nationwide federal program designed to disrupt gun violence strategically and comprehensively, using all available enforcement and prosecutive tools. The initiative involves a partnership of federal, state, and local authorities, uniting their efforts and leveraging existing and new resources. The U.S. Attorney’s Office and its partners tailor their efforts to meet their own district’s unique needs, helping ensure the safety of communities in the Northern District of Oklahoma.
