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Reindeer Games: US Marshals, Escambia Deputies Bust 93 Wanted Felons
December 17, 2013
In a joint effort, the U.S. Marshals Florida Regional Fugitive Task Force and the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office hit the streets of Escambia County the past week in the second phase of an earlier round-up initiated two weeks ago, capturing some of Escambia’s more elusive and violent fugitives.
Deputy Marshals from Tallahassee, Panama City, Tampa and Pensacola worked with Sheriff’s deputies from the ECSO TAC Team and arrested 93 wanted felons in a street-level sweep dubbed as Operation Reindeer Games.
The Task Force identified approximately 120 of Escambia’s more dangerous fugitives who were wanted on various charges including murder, attempted murder, sexual battery, assault, armed robbery, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, kidnapping, strangulation, possession of firearms and other weapon offenses as well as numerous narcotics violations.
At the end of the week, the population of Escambia County Jail swelled as a result of the multi-agency fugitive round-up and others found themselves in local jails in Santa Rosa and Okaloosa Counties; as well as other parts of Florida and Alabama. Of the 93 criminals who went to jail, 12 fugitives surrendered to jails after learning they were being sought on warrants.
Although the operation’s aim was to find fugitives, others were arrested on probable cause arrests of which several included harboring a fugitive or obstruction of justice when trying to conceal the fugitives’ locations. In just four days over 120 warrants were served, three firearms seized, over 1000 grams of various drugs and $240 in counterfeit bills were confiscated, a stolen car was recovered and three active meth labs were shutdown.
This sweep is the latest but not the last one as a part of Sheriff David Morgan’s objective to crackdown on violent offenders with the help of the Florida Regional Fugitive Task Force. The shared goal is to try and help make the people in the community feel safer.
Highlighted cases from Operation Reindeer Games:
Eddie McGee – Charged with 1st Degree Homicide. McGee was wanted out of Atlanta, GA and was believed to be hiding out in Pensacola. The US Marshals in Atlanta identified possible locations and asked the Florida Regional Fugitive Task Force for assistance. McGee was wanted in association with a homicide that took place June 14th, 2013, that occurred at Hidden Cove Circle, Gwinnett County, Norcross, Georgia. On that day, officers arrived on a scene of a reported shots fired call. Gwinnett Officers found the victim dead of a gunshot wound to the back of the head. Gwinnett Homicide investigators determined during their investigation that McGee was a suspect along with Norman Griffith who is also in custody relating to the murder. According to police reports they had arranged to purchase cocaine from the victim.
Douglas White – Charged with Child Cruelty and Abuse. When Marshals and officers attempted to arrest White inside of a trailer, White then took a two-year old whom White stuffed in a plastic tub and covered with clothing and blankets to hide the child to keep it quiet. White then secreted himself in a larger plastic tub beside the child and covered himself under a blanket. White and the child were located and White was subsequently tased by FRFTF members as he attempted to avoid arrest. The child is also the victim of the original crime in which the child was admitted to an Emergency Room for stitches due to injuries reportedly inflicted by White. White also had an active child abuse case with Department of Children and Family services for an assault on a 5 year old child. White was charged additionally with Child Cruelty and Resisting Arrest.
Jermaine Beasley – Charged with Attempted Homicide, Armed Robbery. Beasley is a suspect in a random street robbery and shooting that occurred at Gadsden and “Y” Streets in Pensacola on November 19 of this year.
Latasha Griggs – Charged with Possession of Cocaine and Marijuana. Griggs arrest resulted in the seizure of 126 grams of cocaine and marijuana which also led to the arrest of:
Tequilla Stallworth – Was arrested and charged with Grand Theft Auto, Possession of Counterfeit US Currency.
Casey Blackmon – Charged with Aggravated Assault with Deadly Weapon and Felony Battery by Strangulation. Escambia County Sheriff’s reports state that Blackmon was involved in an argument with his reported girlfriend that resulted in him allegedly choking her, punching and smacking her in the face, then held her down kneeing her in the stomach (police report reflects that she stated she is pregnant and Blackmon was aware of that) and then attempted to tase her with some type of taser device.
Keith Rogers – Charged with Armed Robbery with a Firearm and Aggravated Battery with a Firearm. Rogers was wanted in connection with a home invasion robber that took place on October 10th of this year at the Oakwood Terrace Apartment complex. According to victim and witness statements, Rogers and another man approached the victim and Rogers pistol whipped the man and then the two suspects dragged him into his apartment and robbed him before fleeing. Rogers has 6 prior firearm related arrests.
The sweep was by in large successful because of the assistance of Special Deputy Marshal Task Force Officers from Escambia, Bay, Leon, Santa Rosa, Okaloosa and Walton County Sheriff’s Offices, Panama City and Tallahassee Police Departments, Florida Department of Corrections and Special Agents from the ATF and FBI.
Comments
19 Responses to “Reindeer Games: US Marshals, Escambia Deputies Bust 93 Wanted Felons”
GOOD JOB SHERIFF MORGAN!!!!!!!! I agree with those of you who are griping about how fast these criminals will be able to bond out and continue their criminal behavior, BUT if you want to blame someone, blame “OUR” judges and the judicial system we have in this state…….it’s sad when someone, smoking, growing/dealing marijuana can get more time than a child molester……how messed up is that!!!!!!!! Why blame Sheriff Morgan when it’s obvious that he’s doing his job and doing it very well I might add. How do y’all think he feels when he works his but off trying to get these people off the streets just to have the “system” release them a few hours later. When election time rolls around again, let’s remember these judges and law makers and let’s get THEM out of office, let keep Sheriff Morgan, at least he is doing his job!!!!!!!!
It’s amazing because where I work I have seen every one of these fugitives but no one ever came and said hey have you seen these people! There are some people who care about their community!
Its Hide and Seek .Lets see if they can find them again after they BOND OUT.
Only 24,846 to go.
A POLITACAL MOVE TO FLOOD THE JAILS TO PUT PRESSURE ON THE COUNTY . SOME PEOPLE CANNOT SEE THE FOREST FOR THE TREES!!! THIS IS ALL POLITICS!!!!THINK ABOUT IT !!!
look at the booking photos,most were out in only 4 or 5 hours! with bonds of a few thousand dollars they have no problem finding other criminals to bail them out,notice the smile on Griggs face,i sure hope the judge see’s it@@
I have looked at all three local Fl counties jail and clerk of court sites for info on one that was arrested, can’t seem to find an arrest record on individual. Did see the picture on the tv where arrested in sweep. Any ideas where else to look for info on person? I know Al is not so easy to find online?
BTW, it is the judicial system that lets them out, not the sheriff, why not let the judges know how you feel about this? Some of the judges are elected…look at their record, if you don’t like what they do…vote them out.
Good job! Get these bad guys off our streets! Thank you!
@ Joe- in the real world it takes time to ID the subject and then run down leads as to where they may be. It not like TV where it only takes one hour to solve a crime (less ad time). Good work for all involved and thanks for making the streets a little safer.
Deputy Marshals from Tallahassee, Panama City, Tampa and Pensacola worked with Sheriff’s deputies from the ECSO TAC Team and arrested 93 wanted felons in a street-level sweep dubbed as Operation Reindeer Games.
This was a very time consuming, not to mention the manpower involved, for these officers to have accomplishment these arrrests, considering they have many other duties to perform as well, and an overload of other responsibilities .
on new cases every day, Just the paperwork is a mountain, Money is limited so manpower is limited, a plus for the criminals,
I offer Kudos to these men who have accomplished their goal………..Thank you
Great Job Law Enforcement Officers! Keep up the good work. We citizens take notice of your work and would like to see this area cleaned up and safe for everyone to live, work and play in, without fear from thugs and their unlawful activities.
I agree it is good to have them off the streets but i hope these large numbers of arrests don’t reflect the fact the Sheriff is no longer responsible for the jail.
I bet if you checked just about all of then have been to court for something! And yes they walking around and were not in jail.
Well since no one else can do anything but complain……I myself will at least say good job on 93 people who do not need to be walking our streets getting taking where they belong. Nicely done law enforcement
Why wait till Christmas to play a roundup game on these individuals. They should have been sought when charges were first made
Aren’t there any large blocks of concrete that needs busting – or any septic jobs for the one who treated the child horribly – there must be some sort of nasty labor jobs for theses nasty people. The last thing they want is to have to work so make them really work and get up very early in the morning. Their deeds are often done at night or later in the day. Make them hate jail.
Now that the effort has been made to catch, put them all in prison and keep them off the streets for a long time, if taxpayers have to bear the burden of putting them in prison, dont waste a single dime more by letting them off lightly, wasting more time and money, by having to pursue and round them up again, max penalties for all the scumbags.
“Rogers has 6 prior firearm related arrests.”
And he is/was walking the streets….WHY?