Nearly 11,000 Fugitives Arrested in Sweep
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Nearly 11,000 fugitives were arrested last week as part of an organized effort by the U.S. Marshals Service and state and local law enforcement agencies east of the Mississippi River, including an accused cop killer in Alabama and a Tennessee sex offender who was babysitting young children when arrested, authorities said yesterday.
It was the third in a series of sweeps since last year aimed at catching "the worst of the worst fugitive felons in the country," Attorney General Alberto R. Gonzales said at a Washington news conference.
More than 10,700 fugitives were arrested during the latest push, which also included the shooting death of one suspect in Georgia that is under investigation, authorities said. More than 30,000 fugitives have been arrested as part of the "Operation Falcon" initiative overall.
Previous sweeps were held in April 2005 and April 2006. Gonzales and Marshals Service Director John F. Clark said next week's midterm elections played no role in the decision to hold another sweep now.
In the Washington region, 687 fugitives were arrested, including 102 alleged sex offenders and 23 alleged gang members, authorities said.
-- Dan Eggen
