Hundreds Arrested During Violent Crime Initiative in K.C. Area

Operation Triple Beam, an initiative led by the U.S. Marshals Service to track down some of the Kansas City metropolitan area’s most violent and persistent offenders, resulted in hundreds of arrests and the seizure of dozens of firearms and illegal drugs.

The U.S. Attorney's Office says the results of the 10-week initiative were recently announced by U.S. Attorney Tim Garrison, U.S. Marshal Mark James, and Missouri Governor Mike Parson.

“Operation Triple Beam brought a laser focus by all levels of law enforcement – federal, state, and local – to combat violent crime by targeting the worst offenders,” Garrison said. “Armed and dangerous fugitives were located, arrested, and taken off the street to face justice in state and federal court.

“We are marshaling federal resources to combat intolerable levels of violent crime, and working closely with our partners at the state and local level,” Garrison added. This week, three prosecutors from the Missouri Attorney General’s Office were designated as new Special Assistant U.S. Attorneys to prosecute violent offenders in federal court in Kansas City, Mo.

During Operation Triple Beam, which ran from late May to the middle of August, law enforcement officers made 355 state and federal arrests for outstanding warrants, violent crimes, and drugs. Many of the arrestees were among the most violent and active offenders in the Kansas City metropolitan area, and many of the fugitives reportedly had multiple outstanding warrants from more than one agency.

Law enforcement officers seized 69 firearms, more than 2,000 rounds of ammunition, and 4.4 kilograms of illegal drugs (including methamphetamine, heroin, cocaine, and marijuana). Many of those apprehended during Operation Triple Beam now face new charges for drugs and firearms possession in both state and federal courts.

“I want to thank the brave and dedicated officers, deputies, and agents who worked tirelessly around the clock to go after and bring these predators to justice,” James said. “The violence terrorizing our communities and neighborhoods must stop, but law enforcement cannot do it alone. We need citizens to pick up the phone and call the Crime Stoppers hotline. The reward has been increased to $25,000 and TIPS remain completely anonymous.

“The United States Marshals Service in conjunction with our local, state, and federal partners will not rest while violent criminals victimize our community,” James said. “If you’re a fugitive, surrender now.”

Authorities say the goal of Operation Triple Beam was to apply resistance to the overall spike in violent crime and gun-related violence that peaks during the summer months. The operation focused on individual violent offenders and gang members who have shown a propensity to commit repeated violent acts against persons. Departments with proactive units were asked to target their enforcement activities under this initiative with a focus on arresting subjects who are involved in drug trafficking activities and the illegal possession/use of firearms. The intent was to remove subjects from the street who are responsible for fueling violent crime in the community and to seize illegally possessed drugs and firearms that are at the center of their violent activities.

The arrest types were as follows: drugs-117, weapons-71, burglary-25, assault-22, vehicle theft-17, fraud-14, robbery-10, homicide-8, sexual offenses-6, sexual assault-4, arson-1, failure to register as a sex offender-1, other crimes-59.

The U.S. Marshals Service provided equipment, training, investigative expertise, and overtime to assist local agencies in the endeavor. Operation Triple Beam included the Kansas City and Independence, MO police departments, the sheriff’s departments from Platte, Clay, Jackson and Cass counties, the Missouri State Highway Patrol, the FBI, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Drug Enforcement Administration.

The U.S. Marshals Midwest Violent Fugitive Task Force-Kansas City Division operates in conjunction with members of the KCMO Police Department, the Independence Police Department, the Jackson County, MO sheriff’s Department, the Missouri State Highway Patrol, and other federal law enforcement partners.

The task force objectives are described as a wayto seek out and arrest fugitives charged with violent crimes, drug offenses, sex offenses, and other serious felonies. Nationally, the U.S. Marshals Service fugitive programs are carried out with local law enforcement in 94 district offices, 67 local fugitive task forces, eight regional task forces, as well as a growing network of offices in foreign countries.

Operation Triple Beam is part of a strategy to combat violent crime and drug trafficking in the Western District of Missouri in support of the district’s renewed Project Safe Neighborhoods program.