USMS, Partners Arrest 55 WA State Fugitives in Operation Rolling Thunder

55 fugitives are arrested after the U.S. Marshals Service (USMS), other federal law enforcement agencies, and state and local law enforcement partners conducted a week-long operation in Spokane County and Spokane Valley, Washington. 

Operation Rolling Thunder was conducted August 11 through August 15 by the USMS Pacific Northwest Violent Offender Task Force (PNVOTF), in collaboration with state and local partners. 

It’s the first Homeland Security Task Force operation ever conducted in the Eastern District of Washington. It targeted Spokane’s most dangerous fugitives and repeat offenders, clearing 51 felony warrants (29 of those for violent crimes) and 38 misdemeanor warrants. 

Those arrested were wanted for murder, kidnapping, assault, burglary, child abuse, domestic violence, failure to register as a sex offender, drug trafficking, and other crimes. 

“The removal of this high number of violent fugitives and repeat offenders from our community undoubtedly will have an immediate and measurable impact on community safety,” said the Spokane County Sheriff’s Office. 

Collaborative Partnerships and Intelligence

Operation Rolling Thunder relied on collaborative partnerships and intelligence-driven investigations to apprehend the fugitives. 

“By leveraging cutting-edge investigative tools, intelligence analysis, and close partnerships with our law enforcement partners, we ensure that violent criminals are swiftly brought to justice,” said Craig Thayer, U.S. Marshal for the Eastern District of Washington.

In addition to USMS, other federal agencies taking part in the operation include the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), U.S. Border Patrol, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Washington, and numerous state and local law enforcement.