A concerted, multi-agency summer blitz in eight northern Ohio cities resulted in 619 arrests, the clearance of 684 warrants, and the seizure of roughly 200 firearms, federal officials reported.
The joint initiative, dubbed Operation Northern Shield, targeted violent fugitives from May 17 through July 18 in Akron, Canton, Cleveland, Elyria, Lorain, Mansfield, Toledo, and Youngstown. The operation, led by the US Marshals Service (USMS) for the Northern District of Ohio, brought together federal, state, and municipal law enforcement organizations to conduct simultaneous enforcement actions.
Authorities said that 264 arrests were directly related to concentrated surges in specific locations, while 355 were made in other areas throughout the Northern District.
29 alleged gang members were apprehended, as well as others wanted for violent crimes such as homicide, manslaughter, assault, robbery, sex crimes, human trafficking, firearms charges, and drugs infractions.
“Operation Northern Shield had a different approach than previous operations. We’ve never targeted two or more cities at the same time. But we knew that higher temperatures in the summer months have historically been associated with rising crime, so we wanted to move quickly across our region, not just in one area,” said U.S. Attorney David M. Toepfer for the Northern District of Ohio. “We were resolved to protect our residents in areas with the greatest crime rates. We would especially like to thank the United States Marshals Service for taking the lead in this endeavor to coordinate state and local authorities and resources to apprehend some of the most sought criminals in our District while continuing to do their usual work of tracking down fugitives.”
Investigators seized 198 weapons, two suppressors, two machine gun conversion switches, one inert grenade, and two sets of ballistic body armor. Officers also seized $120,200 in US currency, six pounds of marijuana, and 1.317 kilograms of narcotics, which included fentanyl, crack cocaine, powder cocaine, methamphetamine, and ecstasy.
“Operation Northern Shield was successful because agencies collaborated as a single team rather than working in silos. This is what a successful multi-agency operation looks like. U.S. Marshal Pete Elliott stated, “Different patches, uniforms, and chains of command, but one mission to make northern Ohio safer.” “For 23 years, our USMS (NOVFTF) was established and maintained through our collaborations. My special gratitude go to all of the federal, state, and local officers, assistant U.S. attorneys, and crime analysts who worked tirelessly to ensure the safety of our communities.”
Many of those detained will be prosecuted in state courts, but several cases have been submitted to federal authorities.
Sidney Booty, 47, of Cleveland, a convicted criminal, is among individuals facing federal indictments for possessing an illegal firearm, a silencer, and methamphetamine with the intent to distribute. Marcus Brown, 36, and Terence Montgomery, 32, both of Cleveland, are also facing federal charges for their alleged involvement in a drug trafficking conspiracy including fentanyl, crack cocaine, and interstate transportation in aid of racketeering.
Planning for the effort began in early 2026. Participating agencies included the Northern Ohio Violent Fugitive Task Force teams from Akron, Canton, Lorain, Mansfield, Painesville, Toledo, and Cleveland; the USMS Special Operations Group and K-9 Team; the Ohio State Highway Patrol Special Response Team; the Ohio Adult Parole Authority; and the USMS Southern District of Ohio Fugitive Apprehension Strike Team.
Local police agencies from Akron, Canton, Cleveland, Elyria, Lorain, Mansfield, Toledo, and Youngstown collaborated with the Wyandot County Sheriff’s Office. Federal partners included the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the FBI’s Cleveland Division, and the United States Secret Service.
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