Operation 'Bluff City Blues' nets 214 arrests in Madison, Shelby counties

A West Tennessee operation focused on reducing violence and gang activity netted 214 arrests over two weeks in Madison and Shelby counties.

Multiple agencies collaborated on Operation "Bluff City Blues" from Aug. 12 through Aug. 23, targeting those with outstanding state and federal warrants for everything from homicide to drug distribution to assault.

"Make no mistake about it: These 214 people who are now in custody represent the worst of the worst," United States District Attorney D. Michael Dunavant said in a news conference Monday. "The most violent offenders, gang-related offenders, people who have been committing violent crimes in our communities including aggravated assault, homicide, drug offenses, carjackings and other types of offenses."

Officials recovered 28 firearms, four stolen vehicles, $17,240 in cash and nearly 772 grams of cocaine, heroin, crack and marijuana during the operation, according to a news release.

An operation 'unlike any other'

Law enforcement officials focused their efforts on Memphis and Jackson. During the two-week operation, officials apprehended fugitives, performed sex offender compliance checks, gathered intelligence on gangs and performed firearm and narcotics investigations.

Deputy Commander Mike Quarles of the U.S. Marshals Service Gulf Coast Regional Fugitive Task Force called the operation "unlike any other." 

Based on a U.S. Marshals template, it had three parts: Law enforcement enforced warrants, spent proactive time with the public gathering information and spreading awareness, and held those on probation accountable through compliance checks.

Of those taken into custody, 36 were from Jackson. Their arrests cleared 45 warrants from the Jackson-Madison County area, two of which were for homicides, according to District Attorney General Jody Pickens.

The 214 individuals arrested include:

• 79 identified gang members
• 65 individuals wanted for aggravated assault
• 34 individuals wanted for homicide
• 69 individuals accused of weapons offenses
• 40 individuals accused of drug offenses

Officials also performed 78 sex offender compliance checks in Madison and Shelby counties, finding 13 people in violation of sex offender registration requirements. Law enforcement expects more arrests to result from investigations started during the operation, according to the release.

The cases will be prosecuted in state or federal court, though Dunavant said the vast majority of outstanding warrants were state warrants.

A product of careful planning

Dunavant said he first reached out to the U.S. Marshals Service in the spring to help coordinate the necessary state and federal resources.

The operation itself lasted just two weeks, but the planning behind it started "much earlier than that." Officials reviewed outstanding criminal warrants and selected the launch time.

Aug. 12-15 was Elvis Week in Memphis, meaning thousands from all over the United States traveled through West Tennessee to take part in festivities. The beginning of August also marks the start of the school year for some West Tennessee schools.

"At the same time, quietly, but effectively and productively, these men and women were out working, taking people into custody and making West Tennessee safer," Dunavant said.

All 214 individuals were taken into custody without incident. No injuries were reported, and no shots were fired.

"This is a great example of law enforcement agencies coming together to accomplish a common goal, and that is to make West Tennessee a safer place to live," Pickens said, adding that the operation should send a clear message to those engaging in illegal activity.

"West Tennessee will not be a sanctuary for you," Pickens said. "You cannot hide here. Law enforcement stands ready to go to whatever lengths they need to go to to find you and ultimately bring you to justice and hold you accountable for the crime that you are accused of committing."

The U.S. Marshals Service, United States Attorney's Office, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco Firearms and Explosives, United States Probation Service, District Attorney's Office (Shelby and Madison County), Memphis Police Department, Jackson Police Department, Shelby County Sheriff's Office, Madison County Sheriff's Office, Tennessee Department of Correction and Tennessee Highway Patrol (Jackson and Memphis offices) participated in the operation.

Reach Cassandra Stephenson at ckstephens@jacksonsun.com or at (731) 694-7261. Follow her on Twitter at @CStephenson731.