Whether you are in your home, at work or in your car, when the police show up, it is scary. Even if you believe you have done nothing wrong, recent events have shown us that this matters very little. A recent press release by the United States Marshals and the Department of Justice shows that we do not only face potential charges from local police but also federal law enforcement.
Operation North Star II
In their Feb. 13, 2023, press release, they called their arrest dragnet, “Operation North Star II,” a high-impact fugitive apprehension initiative. They claimed this initiative was to combat violent crime as well as make several arrests based on sex crimes, in 10 cities across several states, including in West Virginia.
Apparently, Operation North Star II is finished, but it lasted for 30 days throughout January. Federal law enforcement collaborated with local police departments to make each arrest.
The aftermath
According to federal authorities, the police dragnet ended with well over 800 arrests. Of those arrests, nearly 100 people were arrested for murder, 68 for sexual assault and 160 kilograms of narcotics were confiscated.
Police claim that they confiscated nearly 200 firearms and over $200,000 in United States currency. However, they did not clarify how the firearms nor the money were related to anything illegal or how the confiscations were justified or legal.
The local connection
On Jan. 26, a local man from Parkersburg, West Virginia, was arrested by the United States Marshals Service from the Southern District of West Virginia. They had the assistance of the Southern Ohio Fugitive Apprehension Strike Team. Authorities from Franklin County, Ohio, wanted the local man for alleged felony assault, murder and a parole violation.
This is yet another example of how anyone, including those in Charles Town, West Virginia, can be caught up in police dragnets and face charges, regardless of guilt.
