August 2, 2023

88 arrested in violent crime sweep

FBI, local police cooperated in two-week operation

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Federal Bureau of Investigation

The FBI and multiple local law enforcement agencies report the arrest of 88 people wanted for an iassortment of violent crimes in the Tucson area. The FBI announced the arrests at a Tuesday news conference.

The wave of arrests, dubbed "Operation Clean House" ran for 11 days starting in mid-July.

Besides the FBI, the operation involved the Pima County Sheriff’s Department, Tucson Police Department, U.S. Marshals District of Arizona, Marana Police Department, Oro Valley police Department, Pascua Yaqui Police Department, and the Tohono O’odham Police Department.

Those targeted were charged with a variety of violent offenses, including four people wanted for homicide. The sweep also resulted in the seizure of 10 firearms and an estimated 9,000 fentanyl pills.

Pima County attorney Laura Conover says the arrests should bring some closure to victims of violent crimes and their families:

"I can't tell you what it means in real world terms what it means to families who have been waiting for justice after suffering violent crime, and that's what the work here today is translating into," Conover said at the news conference.

Tucson Police Chief Chad Kasmar said the rate of violent crime in the city is trending lower, though it is not as low as he would like to see.

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