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In an annual statewide hunt to track down the fugitives, the US Marshal has announced more than 300 criminals including seven murder suspects have been arrested. The announcement was made on Monday. The operation that began on March 2 included more than two dozen law-enforcement agencies from Maricopa, Pima and Pinal counties.
According to David Gonzalez, US Marshal in Arizona, the department had begun the operation by initially targeting more than 1000 arrest.
Among the 307 arrested, 37 were wanted in assault allegation, 23 were involved in child abuse and molestation, 21 were alleged for sexual offense and 17 were wanted for firearms related offense.
"Our main emphasis was to look for the most violent fugitives and make a concentrated effort with all of these agencies and others to get these individuals off the street," Gonzalez said.
"In the last seven years that the U.S. Marshals Service in Arizona has been conducting these interagency fugitive apprehension programs, more than 35,000 felons have been arrested," Gonzalez said.
Further adding Gonzalez said that the program was designed to focus on arresting career criminals. Some of the criminals have been for more than two times.
"We know, from their criminal history, that it's just a matter of time before they start committing crimes again," Gonzales said. "So we'll keep those people under close scrutiny."
