U.S. Marshals And Sheriff’s Deputies Sweep County; 34 Busted

August 15, 2010

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The U.S. Marshals Florida Regional Fugitive Task Force and the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office hit the streets of Pensacola capturing elusive fugitives and thwarting other criminals.

The Task Force worked together with the Sheriff’s Office targeting violent fugitives trying to help make the people in the community feel a little safer. Although the operation’s aim was to find fugitives, others were arrested on probable cause charges while the Task Force was attempting to find those with the warrants.

In just four days 34 people were arrested and 47 warrants were served on charges including sexual battery, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, kidnapping, strangulation, possession of firearms, threatening witnesses, numerous narcotics violations and threatening to harm a law enforcement officer. Also, during the four day sweep two handguns, more than 60 grams of crack cocaine, five grams of powder cocaine and over 270 grams of marijuana were confiscated.

Marshals said the sweep was successful because of assistance of task force officers from Escambia County, Santa Rosa, Okaloosa and Walton County Sheriff’s Offices, Ft. Walton Beach, Niceville and Defuniak Police Departments, Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) and investigators from the State Attorney’s Office. Another reason that the sweep was so successful was because of the contribution of the Escambia County Mobile Booking Unit that was used to help speed up the arrest process and transport of offenders, federal agents said.

“I truly believe that the success of this operation was augmented by the use of the Sheriff’s Office vehicle which allowed officers to stay out on the street giving them more time to do what was intended – arrest people,” said Task Force spokesman Dominic Guadagnoli. “It’s like the old fashioned paddy wagon but modernized to meet law enforcement’s needs today.”

The Sheriff’s Office purchased two Mobile Booking Units about a year ago. They were bought to be used in special operations where large crowds gather and multiple arrests may be anticipated. They have been used at such events such as the Pensacola Interstate Fair and the Blue Angel’s air shows.

Pictured above: One of the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office “Mobile Booking and Transport” paddy wagons outside of the Escambia County Jail. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.

Comments

14 Responses to “U.S. Marshals And Sheriff’s Deputies Sweep County; 34 Busted”

  1. Paul Schwartz on August 16th, 2010 7:06 pm

    Good job Dominic & all the task force !!!!!

  2. disgusted on August 16th, 2010 10:30 am

    george
    I agree totally
    If it were not broken and corrupt they would have cleaned up
    my block a long time ago.
    I don’t live in a poor neighborhood or the getto, but it sure feels
    that way.
    When it turns night the animals all come out even the women
    and run around and do everything under the sun. Drinking and
    drugs are a way of life.

    Its very sad to know that the parents are in on everything.

  3. Dan on August 16th, 2010 8:37 am

    ECSO and Sherrif Morgan: Keep up the good work !!!!

  4. george on August 15th, 2010 5:23 pm

    they’re probably back on the street tonight. get your weapons permits. don’t depend on others. the system is broke. ask the guy that had to save his daughter at wal mart last week.

  5. David Huie Green on August 15th, 2010 4:00 pm

    270 grams. a nickel masses about 5 grams so the weight of 54 nickels or if you just wanted to say a thousand grams mass 2.205 pounds, you are looking at 0.60 pounds–more or less–or nine and a half ounces.

    Not that it matters to me. Most people don’t use drugs by the kilogram or by the ton, grams might even be a bit large for consideration of tokes, me not know.

    Even if you ignore the marijuana for whatever reason (and many would wonder at your reasons) and consider the rest:
    “sexual battery,
    aggravated assault with a deadly weapon,
    kidnapping,
    strangulation,
    possession of firearms,
    threatening witnesses,
    numerous narcotics violations
    and threatening to harm a law enforcement officer.
    Also, during the four day sweep
    two handguns,
    more than 60 grams of crack cocaine,
    five grams of powder cocaine”
    getting these folks off the streets for whatever amount of time, should be considered a good thing.

    David for good things

  6. mike allen on August 15th, 2010 3:23 pm

    U GO BOYS GREAT JOB

  7. Just An Old Soldier on August 15th, 2010 1:43 pm

    GREAT JOB, ECSO! And all the other LEOs involved! Thanks and God Bless!

  8. Dave on August 15th, 2010 11:46 am

    The Officers did a great job. Thank you all for taking a bite out of crime. However, the liberal Judges will slap those arrested with little jail time and probation and the cycle will start over again. Very sad.

  9. AL on August 15th, 2010 10:08 am

    I don’t care if they only found trace amounts of drugs.. you have ‘em, you pay a price. Now, granted, around here that price is negotiable and small but at least our LEOs do their part.

  10. JUDY MASEK on August 15th, 2010 10:06 am

    every little bit helps!…looking at the BIG picture, i think that they did great! and im thankful for each departments efforts.

  11. haha on August 15th, 2010 9:21 am

    i like how they use grams when saying how much drugs were found to make it sound like more than it really is… they didn’t even find a pound even if you add them all together

  12. nudo on August 15th, 2010 8:27 am

    Yeah only if they keep them in jail. If hey take there money on put them back on the street then they will all just repeat again.

  13. Diddleysquat on August 15th, 2010 5:53 am

    Sounds like a winner for the folks in Escambia County.

  14. jimmy carter on August 15th, 2010 2:02 am

    Good job LEO’s! Keep going, their are plenty more where they came from.