Joint Task Force Arrests Dozens in ‘Operation Violence Reduction 12’

March 23, 2016, 9:29 AM HST
* Updated March 23, 9:33 AM

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Last month, a joint task force began a six-week operation that targeted fugitives with outstanding state felony arrest warrants.

Combined efforts of the United States Marshals Task Force, Hawai’i Police Department, Maui Police Department, and Honolulu Police Department, along with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, led to the arrest of 26 individuals on the Big Island and the execution of 33 warrants, under “Operation Violence Reduction 12.”

The 26 arrested on the Big Island had a combined total of 588 prior arrests, averaging 22 per person.

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In total, 162 fugitives were arrested and 258 outstanding state arrest warrants were conducted on the Big Island, Maui, and Oahu.

The operation focused on fugitives who were wanted for violent crimes, including homicide, assault, robbery, firearms/explosives, sex offenses, narcotics, arson, abduction/kidnapping, crimes against children, and gang/organized crime affiliations.

During the six week operation, a total of $6,846,098 was generated in bail amount for the warrants executed, including $119,125 on the Big Island.

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Narcotics in various user amounts were also recovered as part of the arrest operations. The narcotics were turned over to their respective police departments and further investigation, as well as prosecution of new charges, is in their hands.

“We stress the tremendous Lokahi (Unity) in Hawai’i’s Law Enforcement, which includes local, state, and federal agencies who make a difference against these career criminals who continue to offend our magnificent state,” said U.S. Marshal for the District of Hawai’i Gervin Miyamoto.

“Operation Violence Reduction 12” was conducted simultaneously across the country in all 94 federal judicial districts, which include all 50 states and 3 U.S. territories.

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This is the second consecutive year the U.S. Marshals Service has conducted a high-impact national fugitive apprehension initiative focusing on the country’s most violent offenders.

Nationwide, the operation apprehended more than 8,000 fugitives.

The U.S. Marshals Hawai’i Task Force is comprised of various federal, state, and county law enforcement agencies to include the Maui Police Department, Hawai’i County Police Department, Kauai Police Department, Honolulu Police Department, State of Hawaii Attorney General’s Office, Honolulu Prosecutor’s Office, State of Hawaii Probation, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, U.S. Social Security Administration Office of Investigations, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement-Enforcement and Removal Operations, and Hawaii HIDTA.