Federal and local law officers today (Thursday) announced the results of another week-long effort to round up some of the most wanted criminals. Michael Powell is a deputy U.S. Marshal for the Southern District of Iowa, and says the operation was called “FALCON Two”, or Federal and Local Cops Organized Nationally.” He says the operation resulted in the capture of 120 fugitives and clear 167 warrants.

One of the people captured was 20-year-old Nicholas Adam Pothof of Des Moines who was wanted on five outstanding warrants from three jurisdictions and two states. Powell says the Northern District also took part in the operation that ran from April 17-23, and there were 95 fugitives arrest there and 95 warrants cleared. Falcon One was held one year ago and Powell says it covered the entire U.S., while the latest operation covered just 27 states, but made more arrests.

Powell says the operation was successful in clearing the streets of criminals. He says they believe it made a huge dent, as he says they started with approximately 400 warrants targeting violent fugitives. Powell says this is a unique opportunity for federal and local law officers to work together and pool resources.

Powell says Operation Falcon shows you can accomplish a lot more with one concerted effort of law enforcement agencies working together than you can with officers hitting the streets on an individual basis.

Warren County Attorney Gary Kendal helped the officers follow the various warrants of the fugitives, and Kendal agrees the concentrated effort works. Kendal says it gives so many more resources, as he says smaller jurisdictions don’t have the manpower to send out teams to hunt down people wanted on warrants.

Powell says the effort in all 27 states totaled just over nine-thousand arrests with 10-thousand-400 warrants cleared. For more information, surf to www.usmarshals.gov/falcon2.

Related web sites:
Information on Falcon 2 operation