Second phase of fugitive warrant effort leads to 107 arrests in Wicomico, Dorchester Counties
SALISBURY, Md. – Over the span of two days, the Maryland State Police along with law enforcement agencies in Wicomico and Dorchester county worked together to coordinate part two of Operation: Hide And Seek. To find and arrest suspects across the shore with open warrants.
“Having those relationships is key to keeping the crime down here in the lower eastern shore,” said Lieutenant Christopher Davala.
Among those wanted include multiple gang members, but to get them in handcuffs arresting officers had to work their way up the food chain. Getting information from the ones committing the crimes.
“It opens the doors to bigger things. Bigger people. The simple burglary, the three, four homes that are burglarized, that turns into that person then knows who’s fencing the material, where is it going, is it going in state, is it going out of state,” Davala said.
One, by one, by one, suspects were tracked down, arrested and formally charged. No matter how small the crime.
“The small crime turns into the big crime. If we can stop it here, or at least limit it here, we can make contacts with others and then grab those that are doing the severe crimes here in Wicomico County,” said Davala.
Officials tell us whenever they do these types of operations the risk is always high.
“It could be gangs, it could be drug dealers, it could be just simple crimes, you just never know when you start these types of initiatives,”said Davala.
But they’d gladly put on their uniforms and track these suspects down time and time again. To ensure the safety of their community.
“We want to move forward, we want to make sure our streets are safe, we want Maryland to be a safe community, we want it to be a safe community here on the lower shore, Davala said.
Officials say that the investigation was made possible due to the funds provided from Governor Larry Hogan’s office of crime control. They add that they will continue to hold more of these operations in the future.
