Media

Deputies Arrest 59 and Issue 132 Tickets In “Zero Tolerance” Crime Suppression Effort

Release Date: September 10, 2005

Deputies from the Patrol, Traffic, Narcotics, Metro Gang, SWAT, DUI Squad, General Investigation, Reserve Deputy and Emergency Services divisions with the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office conducted a crime suppression initiative for several hours yesterday in various parts of North Shelby County and Memphis.

The enforcement effort started out yesterday morning in the Northaven community in North Shelby County. Deputies served search warrants for narcotics and looked for fugitives. Later, Deputies set up seatbelt checkpoints at intersections in the neighborhood.

“For the past several months the Sheriff’s Office has been working closely with Northaven residents. Crime statistics and calls from the people who live in the area have made this area a priority for us. We are aggressively addressing crime in this neighborhood,” said Shelby County Sheriff Mark H. Luttrell, Jr.

During the past several months, crime associated with criminal gangs have led to several shootings in the Northaven area which left two people dead and others injured. Additionally, several homes have been burglarized and there have been many vandalisms and car break-ins in the neighborhood.

Deputies took a “zero tolerance” approach to all crime observed in the area and patrolled the neighborhood about 12 hours. Late last night, Deputies expanded their enforcement effort to the Frayser area where they conducted seatbelt checkpoints along Thomas Street near Northgate Shopping Center.

While those officers were focusing on street crime and traffic enforcement, another group of officers from the Metro D.U.I. Squad conducted a beer sting.

Officers visited 19 liquor stores and convenience markets. Clerks at 12 of the stores, mostly in the area near Summer Avenue and Sycamore View, sold beer to customers below the legal drinking age of 21.

Eleven of those clerks were given misdemeanor citations which require them to go to jail at a scheduled time to be booked and have their mug shots taken. One clerk, however, refused to accept the citation and was taken to jail and also charged with disorderly conduct.

One market in the Northaven area was also visited by officers. The clerk at that store also received a citation for selling beer to a minor.

Here are the results of the crime suppression effort:

ARRESTS: 59

• Physical Arrests: 24 (Includes 14 fugitives)
• Misdemeanor Citation Arrests: 23 (booking at a later date at the Sheriff’s Office Records and Identification Division at the Shelby County Jail Annex)
• Beer Sting Misdemeanor Citation Arrests: 12

TRAFFIC TICKETS: 132

• Traffic Tickets: 76
• Courtesy Tickets: 56

NARCOTICS SEARCH RESULTS

• Marijuana, Cocaine confiscated
• One handgun, $50,000 confiscated

 

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