Hundreds Of Violent Fugitives Arrested In Operation With U.S. Marshals, Police

Hundreds of fugitives were taken off metro streets in a two-month long operation. The U.S. Marshals worked with police in "Operation Rolling Thunder" to arrest suspects wanted for violent crimes and sex offenses. The arrests solved more than a dozen murder cases, reunited missing children with families and took weapons and drugs off the streets.

“Operation Rolling Thunder” put specially trained officers on the streets to track down fugitives day and night. Over two months they took 463 people into custody.

“There’s a victim for every crime we’re talking about here today,” said Johnny Kuhlman, U.S. Marshal of Western District of Oklahoma. “Hopefully, some of this might bring closure to those victims and their families.”

Three men allegedly involved in a drive-by shooting that killed a nine-year-old boy in southeast Oklahoma City last year were arrested during the operation. Two of those suspects was arrested out of state. As were many others. 

“Several of these fugitives were arrested in surrounding states including Texas, Colorado, Arizona, Pennsylvania, Arkansas and we even had one arrested in Thailand,” said Kuhlman.

The suspects were accused of murder, assault, and sex offenses.

“To those that do commit these violent crimes,” said Chief Wade Gourley, Oklahoma City Police Department. “You’re not going to be able to run, you’re not going to be able to hide.”

Officers also seized hundreds of weapons and 69 kilos of drugs during the massive operation. Four missing children were brought to safety. Authorities said one child was rescued when his father sparked an Amber Alert following the murder of his wife.

“When that Amber Alert went out the entire task force,” said Kuhlman. “I bet 60 to 80 officers that instant started working on that case to locate that child.”

The fugitives arrested face felony state charges and federal charges were added to many of the cases.