More Than 600 Arrested in Massive Northern Ohio Violent Crime Crackdown

More than 600 people were arrested and nearly 200 firearms seized during a months-long violent crime crackdown that stretched across Northern Ohio, including Akron, Cleveland and Canton.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Ohio and U.S. Marshals Service announced Tuesday the results of Operation Northern Shield, a coordinated federal, state and local effort targeting violent fugitives and crime in eight Ohio cities.

The operation ran from May 17 – July 18 and resulted in 619 arrests and 684 warrants cleared.

Authorities also seized 198 firearms, two suppressors, two machine gun conversion devices, two sets of ballistic body armor and an inert grenade.

Drug seizures were also significant. Investigators reported recovering approximately 317 kilograms of narcotics, including methamphetamine, cocaine, ecstasy and fentanyl, along with six pounds of marijuana and more than $120,000 in cash.

Among those arrested were 29 suspected gang members.

Planning for Operation Northern Shield began earlier this year. Rather than concentrating additional law enforcement resources in one community at a time, agencies simultaneously targeted violent fugitives across Akron, Cleveland, Canton, Lorain, Elyria, Youngstown, Mansfield and Toledo.

U.S. Attorney David Toepfer said the strategy was different from previous efforts, with authorities focusing on multiple cities at once ahead of the summer months, when violent crime has historically increased.

The fugitives targeted were wanted for alleged offenses including homicide, manslaughter, assault, robbery and sex crimes. Authorities said other cases involved human trafficking, firearms and illegal drugs.

Of the arrests, 264 came during targeted surges into individual cities, while another 355 arrests were made elsewhere across the Northern District of Ohio.

Several people arrested during the operation are now facing federal charges.

Among them is 47-year-old Sidney Booty of Cleveland, a previously convicted felon accused of possessing an illegal firearm, a silencer and methamphetamine intended for distribution.

Marcus Brown, 36, and Terence Montgomery, 32, both of Cleveland, are accused of participating in a drug conspiracy involving fentanyl, crack cocaine and cocaine. They also face charges involving interstate transportation in aid of racketeering.

The U.S. Marshals Service led Operation Northern Shield through its Northern Ohio Violent Fugitive Task Force, with dozens of federal, state and local agencies participating.