Dallas police and the U.S. Marshals Service arrested 162 suspects during a five-week operation targeting people wanted on warrants for murder, aggravated assault, and other violent offenses, the Dallas Police Department announced May 13.
The operation, called “Operation We Got You,” ran from April 1 through May 5 and cleared more than 200 active warrants, according to DPD Beat, the department’s official blog.
As previously reported by The Dallas Express, Dallas police and the U.S. Marshals Service launched the operation in April as a fugitive apprehension effort aimed at suspects wanted on violent-offense warrants.
Operation Targeted Violent-Offense Warrants
The Dallas Police Department published a 19-page report listing the suspects, warrant charges, and arrest histories. The report says DPD and the U.S. Marshal’s North Texas Fugitive Task Force arrested the 162 suspects between April 1 and May 5.
The warrant charges listed in the report include aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, murder, capital murder, manslaughter, aggravated kidnapping, and family violence-related charges. Several suspects had multiple active warrants listed.
“Today is about public safety, partnership, and accountability,” Dallas Police Chief Daniel C. Comeaux said during a May 13 press conference. “The Dallas Police Department remains relentless in our mission to identify, locate, and remove violent offenders from our communities.”
Comeaux said Dallas police are not waiting for violent suspects to strike again.
“We’re not waiting for violent criminals to strike again,” Comeaux said. “We are going after them, finding them, and taking them off the streets.”
U.S. Marshals Highlight Repeat-Offender Focus
Sean Malecha, acting U.S. marshal for the Northern District of Texas, said the operation targeted suspects wanted for aggravated assault, homicide, and other violent crimes.
“These bad actors present a danger to the community,” Malecha said. “And we as a combined force will not stop what we’re doing until they are all brought to justice either in a federal or state court.”
Malecha highlighted the arrest of Martin Madarang, who was wanted on a murder warrant. The DPD report lists Madarang as having 13 total arrests, including narcotics charges, assault-family violence, and failure to identify as a fugitive.
Malecha said Madarang was arrested April 29 by the North Texas Fugitive Task Force Alpha Team.
“So, he was a repeat offender, but our folks caught up to him on the 29th of April and arrested him,” Malecha said.
Malecha said Madarang is accused in a deadly shooting after a verbal altercation in Dallas.
“And now he’s in custody answering for a murder where he allegedly shot a victim after a verbal altercation in Dallas,” Malecha said.
Police Say 86 Suspects Remained In Custody
Sgt. Sheldon H. Smith, a Dallas police officer assigned to the U.S. Marshals North Texas Fugitive Task Force Alpha Team, said 86 of the 162 suspects remained in custody as of the press conference.
Smith said the operation included elements from Dallas police patrol divisions, the department’s fugitive unit, and the U.S. Marshals task force.
“This collaborative effort was very successful,” Smith said.
Smith said the 162 suspects had 590 total current and previous arrests. He also said authorities cleared 207 aggravated assault and murder warrants during the operation, and 11 suspects were in custody on immigration holds.
“All of these persons that I just described to you had one thing in common,” Smith said. “It was not their first crime.”
Smith said the arrests showed the value of the partnership between Dallas police and federal authorities.
“It is a proven fact that if we work together, both federal and state, that we can get the job done,” Smith said.
Comeaux Touts Proactive Enforcement
Comeaux said the operation reflects a broader strategy of proactive policing.
“Operations like this are what proactive policing looks like,” Comeaux said.
Comeaux said arresting suspects wanted on violent-offense warrants is only part of the city’s public safety challenge.
“Arresting violent offenders is only part of the solution,” Comeaux said. “Accountability matters.”
Comeaux said Dallas police have arrested 1,384 people through proactive enforcement efforts over the past year.
The department did not release a geographic breakdown showing where each arrest occurred. It also did not provide a full summary showing how many warrants fell into each offense category.
Comeaux ended with a warning to suspects with felony warrants.
“And as I always say, if you have a felony warrant, you need to wonder if it’s us watching you,” Comeaux said.
