U.S. Marshals Service and the Arkansas State Police recently concluded two coordinated enforcement operations in Eastern Arkansas, including Pine Bluff, that resulted in the arrest of 47 people.
Those arrests included 31 sex offenders charged with failing to comply with Arkansas sex offender registration requirements.
Operation Trident, conducted June 19-25 in West Memphis, and Operation Call Your Bluff, conducted June 23-25 in Pine Bluff, targeted individuals accused of crimes against children and other high-priority fugitives.
Pine Bluff Police Chief Shawn Davis said the PBPD has heard the community’s calls for reduced crime, which is why the PBPD was heavily involved in the operation.
“We hear when some of you refer to our great city as ‘Crime Bluff,"” Davis said. “But to those individuals that will not abide by the law, we will call your bluff.”
Davis said that Pine Bluff “is making an effort to be a city on the rise with many great possibilities.”
“This agency takes pride in public safety first,” Davis said. “We will not allow anyone to destroy the vision that our public officials have in place to restore and revive this community… .”
Operation Call Your Bluff resulted in the arrest of 17 people, including 11 fugitives and six registered sex offenders, who were charged with failure to comply with Arkansas sex offender registration requirements.
The fugitives were wanted on a variety of felony offenses, including multipole counts of possession of a firearm by certain persons, possession of a machine gun, criminal use of a prohibited weapon, robbery, theft of property by threat, absconding, probation violations, hindering apprehension, simultaneous possession of drugs and firearms and possession of methamphetamine, cocaine and marijuana.
During the operation, investigators also seized five electronic devices and one firearm.
Participating agencies included the PBPD, Arkansas Community Correction, Arkansas State Police and the Benton County Sheriff’s Office K-9 Unit.
“These operations demonstrate the U.S. Marshals Service’s unwavering commitment to protecting our communities by holding sex offenders accountable, apprehending violent fugitives and ensuring compliance with registration laws,” said Cory Harris, acting U.S. Marshal for the Eastern District of Arkansas. “The success of these operations reflects the outstanding partnerships we share with our federal, state and local law enforcement agencies. Working together, we are better equipped to identify, locate and apprehend offenders who threated public safety.”
Harris praised Davis as “a true visionary when it comes to fighting violent crime.”
“He is serious about making our community safer,” Harris said of the chief. “The message he sends, through his action, is clear: We are stronger by virtue of our partnership. We drive crime out the more we work together.”
Matt Wright, acting special agent in charge of Homeland Security Investigations, said that protecting children from online predators requires strong partnerships and a relentless commitment to public safety.
“Through our collaboration with the U.S. Marshals Service, as well as our state and local law enforcement partners, we are able to identify and apprehend individuals accused of using technology to exploit minors,” Wright said. “These operations highlight the importance of working together to safeguard our communities, both in Arkansas and online, and ensure that those who seek to exploit children are held accountable.”
