DETROIT – The United States Marshals Service led Detroit Fugitive Apprehension Team (DFAT) conducted a three day sex offender sweep in the City of Detroit (September 25th to 27th).
DFAT made up of the USMS, Michigan State Police, Wayne County Sheriff's Department, Detroit Police Department, Dearborn Police Department, Livonia Police Detroit Department, Sterling Heights Police Department, Macomb County Sheriff's Department, Oakland County Sheriff's Department, Hamtramck Police Department, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and Michigan Department of Corrections, work in concert to arrest dangerous fugitive felons as well as sex offenders. TOAST which stands for Tracking Offenders and Apprehending Significant Targets, targeted sex offenders in the Detroit Area. There are currently 800 non-compliant sex offenders within the City of Detroit, 400 of which have outstanding warrants for criminal offenses.
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Over eighty officers worked the sweep that netted 70 Sex Offender Registry Felony arrests. These felonies were for cases that involved violent sexual assaults. Also, there were 6 Friend of the Court arrests, 19 misdemeanor arrests, and 656 potential violations of sex offender laws were investigated and cleared. Finally, 83 Detroit Police, 63 Michigan State Police and 22 U.S. Marshal Adam Walsh Act felony investigations have been initiated from information gathered from the sweep.
One case involved Shantee Brown who was wanted for Bond Jumping. His original charge was for 1st Degree Sexual Assault, Kidnapping, Assault with a Deadly Weapon, Felony Firearm and 3rd Degree Sexual Assault. He was given bond on the case and fled the State of Michigan on the 13th of September. DFAT tracked Brown to Birmingham, Alabama. The U.S. Marshal led Gulf Coast Regional Task Force worked the case and arrested Brown late on the 26th of September. Brown attempted to flee from officers on a bike but was apprehended after being chased. He is now currently awaiting extradition to Michigan.
The United States Marshals were given federal responsibility under the Adam Walsh Act in 2006 to apprehend federal sex offenders. Part of this responsibility is to partner with state and local law enforcement to ensure that sex offenders register under the law and arrest those who do not. U.S. Marshal Robert M. Grubbs stated that "DFAT is an outstanding example of law enforcement at all levels coming together for the common purpose of removing violent fugitives and sex offenders from the streets and neighborhoods of our communities." Grubbs expressed that he could not be any prouder of the efforts of all the officers involved. Wayne County Sheriff Benny N. Napoleon echoed Grubb's comments: "The collaboration that went into getting these violent offenders off the street must be commended. I know the effort prevented a number of innocent people from becoming their next victims. We will continue teaming up to send the message that fleeing custody is not an option because you will be caught and face the consequences in court."
Additional information about the U.S. Marshals can be found at http://usmarshals.gov