October 26, 2007

'Operation First Light' nabs 104 Pa. suspects

By Elizabeth Evans
The York Dispatch

YORK COUNTY, Pa. — It was a rude awakening for 104 York County fugitives wanted on felony charges or convictions, many rousted in the early-morning hours by members of a warrant-roundup task force.

The following morning, dawn found those fugitives — including sex offenders, gang members and some of York County's "Most Wanted" — waking up on prison cots, behind bars in York County Prison.

"Operation First Light," an initiative created by the U.S. Marshals Service, was made up of 49 law-enforcement officers. Police from York City and other Central Pennsylvania departments, along with state and federal agents, divvied up stacks of priority warrants and hit the streets, according to U.S. Marshal Michael Regan.

Between Oct. 10 and Tuesday, teams tracked down people wanted by the feds, as well as by York City Police.

"York is not being overlooked," Regan said. "We want to make it a safer place. We will fight, and we will prevail ... however long it will take."

Regan said U.S. Marshals chose to focus on York because of the crime problem here, but also because among law-enforcement agencies "there's a spirit of cooperation that doesn't exist everywhere, quite frankly."

He said when he contacted York County law-enforcement to propose the operation, the response wasn't merely yes, it was "Heck yes ... what can we do to help?"

Marshals chose the name "Operation First Light" as a nod to the time of day many team members burst into the homes of unsuspecting fugitives.

"Most of these operations are conducted in the early morning," Regan said. "We have a higher percentage of success at that time."

Around the clock: But teams were out at all times of the day and night, he said, and got very little sleep over the two-week operation. He said they attained "unprecedented" results.

"Officers were working around the clock," he said. "It was quite an undertaking."

The arrests included one homicide warrant, 38 narcotics warrants, 18 burglaries, nine probation/parole violators, four robberies and three assaults.

During 16 arrests, task-force members seized drugs including cocaine, heroin, marijuana and ecstasy pills, as well as $2,017 in cash.

No fugitives were injured during the arrests, but three officers suffered very minor hand injuries, all from splinters that flew when they were using battering rams to break down doors, according to Deputy Marshal Steve Rowe.

A team member used a Taser on one man, part of a group of Latin King gang members, Regan said, one of whom was a fugitive. After a vehicle chase, the fugitive was caught and another group member was "tased" and arrested as well, he said.

Thursday morning, Regan, Rowe and a number of local, state and federal officials spoke about the operation while standing on the steps of the York County Judicial Center.

"They've done a magnificent job here," acting U.S. Attorney Martin Carlson said of the task force. He said removing that many fugitive felons from the York community "changed the face of crime" here.

'Worst of the worst': York City Police Commissioner Mark Whitman expressed his gratitude to the U.S. Marshals Service and the other agencies that participated.

"It takes some of the worst of the worst off the streets," Whitman said.

District Attorney Stan Rebert said the "highlight of our operation" was the capture of convicted rapist Biagio "Ben" Scotto, 39, in London's Heathrow Airport on Oct. 10 — the first day of the operation here.

The former York Township restaurateur was convicted of rape and related charges by a York County jury in July 2005 but was allowed to remain free until his October 2005 sentencing hearing. During that time, he fled to Italy.

Less than three weeks ago, authorities in England captured Scotto after he flew into London. U.S. Marshals had put his name on Interpol's watch list, said Rebert, who counts Scotto's capture as part of the "Operation First Light" efforts.

Thursday, Regan said Scotto remains incarcerated in London and is fighting extradition — a process that could take months.

"I'm convinced he's fighting a losing battle," Regan said.