Suffolk Police apprehend 12 fugitives in massive indictment sweep

SUFFOLK, Va. (WAVY) — On Wednesday, the Suffolk Police Department along with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), and the United States Marshal Service issued ten narcotics and firearms related search warrants.

A months-long investigation conducted by Suffolk Police Neighborhood Enforcement Team-Criminal Investigations Division and the ATF led to the massive indictment sweep.

Narcotics and multiple firearms were seized during the execution of the search warrants. Police arrested 12 people and 109 direct indictments were served.

Suffolk Police Chief Al Chandler, Suffolk Commonwealth Attorney Narendra Pleas and a representative with the ATF held a press conference Monday at 3 p.m. at Suffolk Police headquarters.

“We as an agency heard our citizens express to us the need for change in policing. It was important to us, that rather than taking a hammer to our communities, we applied surgical, investigative, precision to cut the cancer out of our great city.” Chief Chandler said.

During the press conference, he acknowledged support from other agencies, members of his department and citizens that provided insight saying, “Special thanks to our federal partners at the ATF and the U.S. Marshals service, the commonwealth attorney, Narendra Pleas and her legal team, and special agent Kay Hutt with the National Insurance crime bureau. This operation would not have happened without the amazing work of Suffolk police officers Lieutenant Rob Fareman, Sergeant Jake Lions, Investigator Nick Smith, Investigator Christy Gains, our CSI team, our VICE Narcotics unit, our detective bureau, and the uniform patrol division. And most importantly our citizens who worked with us providing information and insight to protect and defend their communities.”