Fugitives arrested as part of U.S. Marshal-led operations in Northern West Virginia

CLARKSBURG, W.Va. — As a result of two Marshals-led operations, numerous individuals were arrested in the Northern District of West Virginia.

(L to R) Chief Deputy U.S. Marshal Alex Neville, U.S. Marshal Gary Gaskins and Monogalia County Sheriff Al Kisner provide the results of Operation Violence Reduction 7
(L to R) Chief Deputy U.S. Marshal Alex Neville, U.S. Marshal Gary Gaskins and Monogalia County Sheriff Al Kisner provide the results of Operation Violence Reduction 7

On Wednesday, representatives from multiple law enforcement agencies provided the results of Operation Violence Reduction 7, a nationwide effort to crack down on crime by targeting and arresting the most violent wanted felony fugitives.

From March 2 and April 10, 7,127 individuals with warrants for murder, attempted murder, manslaughter, robbery, aggravated assault, arson, abduction/kidnapping, sexual assault and child molestation were captured through cooperation between multiple agencies, 383 firearms were seized and 69 kilograms of illegal narcotics were confiscated.

With the Northern District’s focused on Monongalia, Berkley and Mineral Counties, 48 arrests were made and 54 open warrants were cleared.

“I just want to thank the Marshals Service for all of their assistance with our warrants in Monongalia County and I think the results of this operation were outstanding,” Monongalia County Sheriff Al Kisner said. “Everybody that was involved should be applauded for their efforts.”

Chief Deputy U.S. Marshal Alex Neville highlighted two cases from the operation during Wednesday’s press conference.

James Davis was wanted by the Hancock County Sheriff’s Department for failure to register as a sex offender after being convicted of sexually assaulting a minor. Through the nationwide effort, Davis was tracked down and arrested in East Liverpool, Ohio before being extradited back to West Virginia to face his charges.

Quinton James was wanted by the Harrison County Sheriff’s Department for multiple counts of distributing heroin after previously being arrested on drug and other charges. Through investigation into James’ ties to Baltimore, Maryland and a collateral lead, the Capital Area Regional Fugitive Task Force was able to track him down in Columbia, Md. to be extradited back to Harrison County.

In Monongalia County, U.S. Marshal Gary Gaskins said they looked at eight warrants. Out of those warrants, they were able to make five arrests and three others are pending.

“The Marshals Service, along with the other law enforcement family, they are relentless,” Gaskins said. “It’s just a matter of time before these other three either turn themselves in or we find them and bring them in.”

The second operation the Marshals Service provided the results of Wednesday combined the Marshals and the State

(L to R) Sex Offender Investigations Coordinator John Hare, Chief Deputy U.S. Marshal Alex Neville, U.S. Marshall Gary Gaskins and State Police 1st Sgt. Shawn Kennedy provide the results of Operation Tidal Wave
(L to R) Sex Offender Investigations Coordinator John Hare, Chief Deputy U.S. Marshal Alex Neville, U.S. Marshall Gary Gaskins and State Police 1st Sgt. Shawn Kennedy provide the results of Operation Tidal Wave

Police resources to conduct sex offender compliance checks in Harrison, Marion and Monongalia Counties.

Operation Tidal Wave began April 12 and ended April 19, looking at the three counties’ approximately 570 offenders required to register.

According to John Hare, Sex Offender Investigations Coordinator, the operation provided $20,000 in overtime funds to the State Police, which would then work through their database for those who are non-compliant.

“That might mean he might of moved from one county to another county, or maybe one side of town to the other side of town,” he said. “The State Police doesn’t know where he’s at, they’ll ask us to assist in locating that individual and determining his status, if he’s actually a fugitive or just a non-compliant type of individual.”

According to Hare, 609 compliance checks were conducted. Of those checks, 490 offenders were found in compliance. Out of those not in compliance, four have been arrested and two arrests are pending, with one as possibly violating the Sex Offender and Registration Notification Act by leaving the state.

The success of the two operations was dependent upon the ability to communication and cooperate between agencies, according to Gaskins.

That ability remains important in the day-to-day operations as well.

“There’s not a day that doesn’t go by that there’s not an arrest made somewhere in North Central West Virginia from fugitives and warrants that are out there that people just apparently want to ignore,” said. “It’s very beneficial to have everybody working together and we have great communication.”

More information about these and other operations can be found at usmarshals.gov.