FALCON tracks down, cracks down

By Harold Gwin

Suspects in violent crimes, sex offenses, narcotics and gang activity were targeted.

YOUNGSTOWN — A federally coordinated effort tracked down and pulled 101 fugitives from justice off the streets in the greater Youngstown area in a single week at the end of June.

The effort by local, state and federal law enforcement targeted those wanted for crimes of violence, sex offenses, gang activity and narcotics violations.

It was coordinated under the U.S. Marshals Service Operation FALCON 2008, a nationwide crackdown.

FALCON stands for Federal And Local Cops Organized Nationally. The crackdown ran from June 23-30.

There were nearly 750 fugitives arrested in the 40 counties within the U.S. Marshals Service for the Northern District of Ohio during that period, said Peter J. Elliott, U.S. Marshal for the district, in announcing the results Wednesday.

A total of 33 area participating police agencies identified people wanted for committing various crimes who were then targeted by assigned arrest teams within each geographic area.

Local police officials who joined Elliott for the announcement said the program has been a remarkable success in getting dangerous criminals off the streets.

Law enforcement authorities appreciate the work the U.S. Marshals have done for the city and surrounding communities, said Youngstown Police Chief Jimmy Hughes, citing Monday’s arrest of a murder fugitive, Aaron Sherrod, on Monday as an example.

The U.S. Marshals Southeast Regional Fugitive Task Force caught Sherrod in Rex, Ga. He is wanted by Youngstown in the November 2007 shooting death of James Dow on the city’s North Side. Leads to his whereabouts were developed by the U.S. Marshals Northern Ohio Violent Fugitive Task Force, Hughes said.

Warren Police Chief John Mandopolous said Operation FALCON finally provides a viable method of coordinating these fugitive apprehensions.

It’s also led to the building of great relationships among local police departments, all of which helps to reduce the crime rate, he said.

The effort shows what can be done when agencies work together, noted Mahoning County Sheriff Randall Wellington.

Boardman Township Police Chief Patrick Berarducci said he has a team of officers working with the marshals on a regular basis and has found the federal agency to be extremely cooperative.

The marshals played a major role in the quick arrest of two people wanted for a recent home invasion in the township, he said.

Hughes said he would like to see Operation FALCON run on an annual basis to help remove dangerous criminals from Youngstown’s streets.

That’s an issue to be determined by the U.S. Attorney General’s office, which controls the program, Elliott said.

He noted there were 19,000 arrests made nationally during the weeklong effort.

The success of the program, first launched in 2004, is based on partnerships with local police agencies, Elliott said, adding that the general public has been helpful as well, frequently phoning in tips on fugitives by calling the Northern Ohio Violent Fugitive Task Force at (866) 4-WANTED. Reward money is available for information leading to arrests.

The 101 arrests in the Youngstown area cleared a record-best 143 outstanding arrest warrants, Elliott said.

gwin@vindy.com