38 arrested in Wareham Police Department's second Operation Safe Streets

Oct 12, 2011

Wareham Police report that 38 people were arrested last weekend during their second "Operation Safe Streets," with charges ranging from misdemeanors to attemped murder.

Conducted from Friday to 2 a.m. Sunday, the sweep involved the Wareham Police Department Detective and Patrol Divisions, the Massachusetts State Police Community Action Team (CAT), the Massachusetts State Police Violent Fugitive Apprehension Team, the Plymouth County Sheriff’s Dept. K-9 Unit, the Barnstable County Sheriff’s Department K-9 Unit, the Massachusetts Trial Court Probation Department, and the Massachusetts Parole Department. Lt. Kevin Walsh of the Wareham force planned the operation.

The effort focused on arresting individuals for outstanding warrants, conducting aggressive traffic enforcement, and doing neighborhood patrols, police said.

A list of those arrested and the offenses for which they were arrested was not immediately available, but a police press release said many of those arrested on outstanding warrants were wanted for "serious offenses" such as rape, home invasion, attempted murder, assaults, drug offenses, and weapons charges.

Police also reported three arrests for operating under the influence of alcohol, one of which was the person's alleged fifth offense.

More than 225 vehicle stops were made with 120 citations issued by Wareham Police and State Police.

It was the town's second Operation Safe Streets. The first, conducted in February, resulted in 48 arrests and 277 traffic citations.

In praising last weekend's operation, Chief Richard Stanley said the Wareham Police Department will continue to "aggressively address the crime problems in Wareham, sending the message to the criminal element that the Wareham Police Department and its citizens will not tolerate them 'hiding out' or committing criminal acts in this town."