Approximately 100 state, local and federal officers combined forces this week in Wake County to conduct searches of high-risk individuals on probation or parole supervision and to seek others wanted on outstanding criminal warrants. The two-day effort on June 27-28 resulted in 41 arrests, the seizure of 15 firearms, seizure of approximately $21,000 in cash and quantities of marijuana, cocaine and crystal methamphetamine.
Officers successfully served 56 warrants that included 75 charges. Searches were attempted at the residences of 105 probationers or parolees and 56 searches were successfully completed. Thirty-three individuals were charged with probation or parole violations.
Significant events included the arrest of a former New Jersey police officer who fled while on trial for official misconduct and racketeering charges, the arrest of a sex offender with nine firearms and the arrest of probationer in possession of six guns and thousands of rounds of ammunition.
Participating agencies include the North Carolina Department of Public Safety, U.S. Marshals Service, Raleigh Police Department, Wake County Sheriff’s Office, U.S. Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, U.S. Attorney’s Office for Eastern District of North Carolina, Wake County District Attorney’s Office, North Carolina Information Sharing and Analysis Center (NCISAAC) and police departments from Apex, Cary, Garner, Holly Springs, Knightdale, Rolesville, Morrisville, Wake Forest, and Zebulon. The Wilson Police Department Special Response Team and Crisis Negotiation Team also assisted.
Approximately 40 local officers were temporarily deputized as Special Deputy U.S. Marshals for purposes of this operation.
“We are grateful to our federal and Wake County law enforcement partners for their hard work on this operation,” said NC Public Safety Secretary Erik Hooks. “When weapons, drugs and wanted persons are removed from our streets, everyone enjoys a safer community.”
“The U.S. Attorney’s Office was pleased to partner with federal, state and local law enforcement agencies in Operation Summer Solstice to help make Wake County safer,” said John Stuart Bruce, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina.
"This operation shows the strong collaboration between local and federal law enforcement that serve daily to keep us all safe,” said Wake County District Attorney Lorrin Freeman. “Individuals under supervision should know they will be closely watched. We are committed to keeping illicit drugs and weapons out of our community."