Fugitive operation leads to 258 arrests
Federal officials say they arrested 258 people in Minnesota during a monthlong national campaign to round up fugitives called Operation Falcon.
Operation Falcon stands for Federal and Local Cops Organized Nationally. It's a nationwide effort to apprehend fugitives, led by the U.S. Marshals Service.
In Minnesota, the operation targeted people wanted on felony charges, including 18 alleged sexual predators and other fugitives wanted for violent crimes.
Those arrested include James Epp, 28, a Hopkins resident wanted for alleged armed robbery and aggravated assault.
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The Hennepin County Sheriff's Office has accused Epps and another individual of robbing two people at gunpoint. During the robbery, Epps allegedly stuck a gun in the mouth of one of the victims, pistol whipped him, and bit off part of the victim's ear.
U.S. Marshal Michael McGinn says nine people arrested in Minnesota are known gang members. St. Paul Police Chief John Harrington says 55 people were arrested in his city alone.
The effort stretched from Bemidji and Duluth in the north to Rochester and Olmsted County in the south.
"Each time we wrap up a Falcon operation in any location, there are less dangerous individuals and fewer threats to the community than before we arrived there," said John F. Clark, Director of the U.S. Marshals Service. "That is very gratifying."
Minnesota's Operation Falcon team included about 175 federal, state, and local law enforcement officers, making up 16 separate arrest teams working throughout the operation.
Since its inception in 2005, Operation Falcon has made more than 91,086 arrests and cleared more than 117,874 warrants nationwide.
(The Associated Press contributed to this report)