93 fugitives arrested in Baltimore-area crime sweep dubbed ‘Operation Washout’

By Alaa Elassar, CNN

According to the US Marshals Service, 93 refugees were arrested in an inter-agency law enforcement operation.

Operation Washout focused on wanted violent criminals and gang members in the Baltimore, Maryland area. The operation was conducted over a two-week period in July under the direction of the Regional Fugitive Task Force of the Capital Area and the Warrant Apprehension Task Force of the Baltimore Police Department.

Among those arrested were four suspects for manslaughter, 11 for attempted manslaughter, 26 for domestic violence, three for rape and four for firearms offenses, the US Marshals Service said on Monday.

The operation also resulted in the arrest of 16 documented gang members and workers and the seizure of nine firearms. A total of 110 arrest warrants had been served, said the US Marshals Service.

“The arrest of these most violent refugees has increased security for citizens of Baltimore and the surrounding areas,” said Johnny Hughes, US Marshal of Maryland District, in the statement. “The United States Marshals Service is committed to working with our allied law enforcement partners in the fight against violent crime.”

Other agencies involved in Operation Washout are the FBI; ATF; Department of Homeland Security Investigations; Maryland State Police; Howard County Police; Maryland Transportation Department Police; Maryland Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services; and Annapolis Police Department.

“Our collaboration with the US Marshals Capital Area’s Regional Fugitive Task Force and participation in joint operations such as Operation Washout reflect our continued partnership and commitment to arrest and remove some of the most violent criminals from the streets,” said the police commissioner of Baltimore, Michael Harrison, in the statement.

“This operation demonstrated our continued efforts to work with all of our law enforcement partners at the federal, state and local levels to create a safer Baltimore.”

This year, Baltimore has seen a worsening wave of crime, with 18 murders recorded in just 10 days in June as the city scrambles to recruit more officials and increase community engagement, Baltimore Police Commissioner Michael Harrison said opposite CNN’s Jake Tapper in June.

“We’re seeing the same thing you see in New York and all the other big cities around the country: an increase in violence, but there are a number of problems,” Harrison said. “It’s group and gang violence, it’s retribution for previous bad acts. But we are seeing an increase in close acquaintance shootings and domestic violence shootings where people simply have absolutely poor or no conflict resolution skills and / or use weapons to resolve their conflicts. “

The CNN Wire
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