Thirty-three people in Tucson were arrested in a U.S. Marshals Service operation targeting property crimes during the holiday season.
Operation Grinch Stopper was conducted throughout the state between Dec. 8 and Dec. 10. It resulted in 205 total arrests and the clearing of 227 warrants.
"Essentially, we're focusing on individuals wanted for property-related crimes, such as robbery, burglary, theft and larceny," said Nathan Alexander, Deputy U.S. Marshal for the District of Arizona in Tucson.
The operation also targeted drug offenders who have histories of property crime convictions, he said. The Marshal's Service in a news release cited a U.S. Bureau of Justice Statistics report saying that property crime offenders most likely committed their offenses to get money to buy drugs.
Operation Grinch Stopper investigations also led to arresting suspects in other crimes, such as assault, sexual offense and dangerous crimes against children, the agency said.
Among the Tucson arrestees was Michael Francis, 27, who was wanted on a domestic violence charge and in connection with a parole violation stemming from burglary convictions, according to the Marshals Service.
Francis allegedly unleashed a "large aggressive dog" on the operation's task force members, the agency said. He then came out from underneath a trailer home and led them on a foot pursuit before being caught.
Operation Grinch Stopper is a partnership of the Marshals Service and local law enforcement entities.
