Jun 24, 2008 - 04:06:45 CDT
FARGO - A weeklong roundup that targeted sex offenders and drug dealers resulted in the arrests of 112 fugitives in North Dakota, law enforcement officials said.The annual sweep was part of a nationwide project known as Operation Falcon. It was led by the U.S. Marshals Service and involved 40 law enforcement officials from state, local and federal agencies.
All of the fugitives were arrested without incident, U.S. Attorney Drew Wrigley said.
"That's pretty impressive for over 100 people who have felony warrants and obviously are motivated to avoid detection by law enforcement," Wrigley said at a press conference Monday.
A half dozen people were arrested for sex offenses, including Ellric Giroux, 29, and Tina Haws-Dahl, 27, of the Fargo area. They were arrested for failing to register as sex offenders.
"This is not the first time they have failed to register," Wrigley said.
Haws-Dahl also was wanted for possession of drug paraphernalia, Cass County Sheriff's Capt. Rick Majerus said.
"It's kind of unique, obviously, to have both sex offenders, both living together as a couple," Majerus said. "So it was sort of extra kudos for us to get both of them."
Giroux, who had been placed on GPS monitoring as part of his probation, allegedly cut off his ankle bracelet at the Red River Valley fair.
"That was just kind of left on the ground, so we know the last place he was," Majerus said.
Wrigley said 100 people were arrested on local, state and county warrants, and a dozen people were wanted on federal charges.
It was the fourth straight year of the sweep. U.S. Marshal David Carpenter called this one the most successful.
"In the past, we haven't had these numbers," Carpenter said. "These guys (law enforcement officers) keep getting better and they keep working together with the agencies better."
Besides the arrests, Wrigley said federal fugitive Curi Caberi Tapia-Martinez was mentioned on the "America's Most Wanted" TV show. Tapia-Martinez has been indicted on drug conspiracy charges.
"We're hoping that Mr. Tapia-Martinez becomes the lucky 113th person arrested," Wrigley said.
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GOOD wrote on Jun 24, 2008 9:58 AM:
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