By Charles E. Ramirez
The Detroit News
Mount Clemens, Mich. — Fifty-seven sex offenders and violent criminals wanted for probation violations have been arrested in a sweep conducted by the U.S. Marshal’s Service and Macomb County Sheriff’s Office, officials said Thursday.
Called “Operation Safeguard,” the three-day sweep was the first of its kind by the two agencies.
U.S. Marshal and sheriff’s deputies targeted southeast Michigan with help from the Michigan State Police and the state Department of Corrections, officials said.
“This operation targeted the worst of the worst,” said Robert Grubbs, U.S. Marshal for the Eastern District of Michigan. “These are people who have committed heinous crimes — who attack our kids and senior citizens.”
The sweep ended Thursday.
“But just because we didn’t get you in the last three days, doesn’t mean we’re going to stop looking,” Grubbs said. “There are only two ways to get your name off our wanted list: Either we’ve tracked you down, or you’re no longer of this world.”
Grubbs, who made the remarks at a media conference, was joined by Macomb County Sheriff Anthony Wickersham at the sheriff’s office.
“The majority of these fugitives are violent criminals, and both the Marshal’s Service and our office felt the need to come together and take these individuals off the street,” Wickersham said.
Wickersham said his office reassigned 38 deputies to the 65-member task force, and the effort was done without additional costs to taxpayers.
The task force had compiled a list of about 300 criminals who have violated the terms of their probation and have arrest warrants issued by the Macomb Circuit Court, Wickersham said.
“Any time you can take a child molester or murderer off the street, it’s a success,” Grubbs said.
Copyright 2012 The Detroit News