45 Arrested In Multi-Agency Crime Crackdown

It's called "Operation Gangbusters", and it is the first time an operation of this magnitude has taken place in Alaska.

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By Alexis Fernandez

Story Created: Jan 17, 2011 at 3:44 PM AKDT

Story Updated: Jan 18, 2011 at 3:28 PM AKDT

Over 45 people with warrants are off the streets, thanks to a law enforcement operation bust involving over 100 officers coming from 12 different local, state, and federal agencies.

It's called "Operation Gangbusters" and it is the first time an operation of this magnitude has taken place in Alaska. Participating agencies were tasked to seek out and arrest individuals with active warrants, perform home visits on probationers and parolees and to investigate possible gang-related activities.

"If we ever have an emergency situation where we all need to come together, having an operation like this multi-agency...we've developed so many contacts among the other agencies. We got a better understanding of what the capabilities of the other agencies are," said U.S. Marshal David Long.

The planning for the three-day multi-agency crime crackdown began back in October 2010. Over 100 officers from 12 jurisdictions, including U.S. Marshals, Homeland Security investigators and the FBI, were involved in the operation that ended Friday night.

The operation targeted violent crime reduction, as well as gathered crime intelligence in the southcentral area.

Officers arrested 45 people with warrants, recovered one runaway and recovered two stolen guns and two snow machines as well as busted a methamphetamine deal.  Officers also dismantled two marijuana-growing operations.

"You take a lot of those violent offenders off the street, and that's going have a reduction in crime," Anchorage Police Vice Sgt. Kathy Lacey said. "It's going to have farther reaching benefits in that we have developed relationships with these other agencies.  We're going to have future projects together."

Officers say they also found sex offenders who were out of compliance with registry requirements and probationers and parolees who were in violation of their terms of release. 
 

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