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http://heraldargus.com/articles/2012/01/18...6f011688575.txt

Warrant sweep yields 22 arrests

By Tim Moran
Staff writer
Published: Tuesday, January 17, 2012 9:48 PM CST
MICHIGAN CITY — The police department’s new motto to “tighten the grip” on crime took another step forward Tuesday as 22 Michigan City residents were arrested as part of a morning-long warrant sweep that targeted those with felony warrants for a number of crimes.

Police Chief Mark Swistek said “Operation Freeze,” a cooperative effort between federal, state and local law-enforcement officials, “went pretty well overall,” noting one handgun and a significant amount of marijuana were seized from the sweep.

“Our detectives have exhausted all efforts in catching these offenders,” Swistek said. “When we arrest someone for a crime like robbery, burglary or theft, it prevents many more of those offenses.”

While the number arrested Tuesday was down from the last two sweeps of 2011, Swistek said police officers “did a great job” catching two arrestees who led to foot pursuits.

One person facing a warrant for dealing marijuana originally was suspected to be at a location near the south end of town, Swistek said, but “it took about an hour” to get him in custody.

“From the south side location, we followed a lead to a hotel, and then finally caught him in a basement on Cleveland Avenue,” the chief said.

Chief of Operation Tim Richardson said while some officers may give up after the first lead proves dry, the Michigan City force “exhausts all possible leads” until they either capture the suspect or simply run out of possibilities.

“We have extra officers on staff on these days, so we do not rest,” Richardson said.

In addition to serving out five drug warrants, police made arrests for alleged robberies, burglaries and thefts.

The two foot pursuits Tuesday morning were by Officer Ronald Skibins, who Swistek said “did a nice job in catching them.”

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http://thenewsdispatch.com/articles/2012/0...a0698383364.txt

Total arrests from warrant sweep now at 26

From Staff Reports
Published: Thursday, January 19, 2012 5:07 PM CST
MICHIGAN CITY — Tuesday morning’s “Operation Freeze,” the first organized warrant sweep of 2012 led by the Michigan City Police Department’s Street Crimes Unit, netted 26 arrests.

Assisting the MCPD’s SCU were the La Porte County Prosecutor’s Office, U.S. Marshal Service, Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms, Indiana State Police, La Porte County Sheriff’s Office, La Porte Metro Drug Unit, Long Beach Police and Trail Creek Police Department.

Seized as part of the sweep were one handgun, marijuana and drug paraphernalia.

Arrested in Tuesday’s warrant sweep, and the specific charges, were:

*
• David Oldham, 42, La Porte, child molesting, C felony.

• Jeffrey G. Cooper, 38, 5055 N. Pawnee Trail, Apartment 10, possession of child pornography, D felony.

• Sirmarcus D. Nixon, 27, La Porte, dealing marijuana, C felony.

• Dewayne O. Sutton, 21, 501 E. 10th St., robbery, B felony.

• Lucas A. Burnett, 24, 636 Faulknor St., fraud, D felony.

• Joseph S. Nelson, 26, 6411 Hayes Ave., false reporting, A misdemeanor.

• Jerrold L. Minix, 31, 115 Tall Timbers Court, burglary, B felony.

• Jason M. Bukowski, 29, 1014 1/2 W. Eighth St., theft, D felony.

• Kenneth C. Keen, 24, 719 S. Dickson St., battery, D felony.

• Martell Yates, 27, 418 Hobart St., possession of a controlled substance, D felony.

• Daryl S. Gifford, Westville, revocation of a suspended sentence for burglary, B felony.

• Shawna Y. Hill, 33, 317 Vail St., failure to appear for theft, D felony.

• Marsaliyna L. Lawhorn, 31, 304 Woods Edge Drive, Apartment G, residential entry, D felony.

• Marquise L. Eckwood, 23, listed as homeless, revocation of a suspended sentence for battery, D felony.

• Lakisha N. Walker, 36, 316 Walker St., theft, D felony.

• Tricia J. Valdez, 27, 205 Milan Inn, theft, D felony.

• Katherine E. Cates, 19, 2408 Franklin St., theft, D felony.

• Olivia A. Nelson, 22, 4508 Ohio St., false informing, A misdemeanor.

• Amanda Brummett, 30, 3209 Dody Ave., Apartment 6, failure to appear for theft, D felony.

• Irineo S. Sierra, 41, 208 Avalon Court, theft, D felony.

• A 17-year-old juvenile, resisting law enforcement, A misdemeanor.

• James Gray, 36, 701 N. Carroll Ave., dealing cocaine, A felony.

• Bruce Walker, 72, 426 E. Seventh St., dealing schedule II controlled substance, A felony.

• Dustin Crump, 23, 233 Southwind Drive, dealing marijuana, C felony.

• Carlos Cooper, 23, 218 Grant Ave., dealing schedule II controlled substance, B felony.

• Brandon Matheny, 28, La Porte, dealing counterfeit substance, C felony.