U.S. Marshals Service ‘Operation River Run’ Results in Arrest of Over 50 Fugitives in Southeast Iowa

Davenport, IA – From May 19 – June 20, U.S. Marshals from the Southern District of Iowa, Northern District of Iowa, and Central District of Illinois, joined forces with law enforcement officers from the Scott County Sheriff’s Office, Bettendorf Police Department, and Iowa Department of Corrections to conduct a five-week long fugitive operation in Scott County, Iowa, and surrounding communities.  

The local operation dubbed “Operation River Run”  (ORR) resulted in the arrests of 52 fugitives wanted on outstanding local, state, and/or federal arrest warrants.  Each of the individuals arrested during Operation River Run had pending criminal charges for crimes involving homicide, guns, drugs, assaults, sex offenses, or other crimes of violence and/or criminal histories of convictions for such crimes. 

Operation River Run was divided into three phases- from May 19-June 1, participating agencies selected arrest warrants to work during the enforcement phase of the operation and began developing credible information as to the whereabouts of the fugitives. From June 2-4, three teams of law enforcement officers representing 11 local, state and federal law enforcement agencies participated in the three-day enforcement phase. During the follow-up phase from June 5-20, ORR investigators continued to locate and arrest several additional individuals not previously located during the enforcement phase. Most of these individuals were arrested in Scott County and Rock Island County, Illinois, while the arrest of others spanned between Sioux City Iowa and Chicago Illinois.

“In our work with local, state, and federal agencies, our commitment to serving the community remains unchanged,” said Chief Deputy U.S. Marshal for the Southern District of Iowa George Mavromatis. “We are all devoted to honoring our oaths of office and tirelessly working to combat violent crime in our communities. The achievements of Operation River Run highlight our shared dedication to collaboration among all professionals in the Southern District of Iowa.” 

The Southern Iowa Fugitive Task Force- Davenport Division is composed of the following federal, state and local agencies: U.S. Marshals Service, Des Moines County Sheriff’s Office, Burlington Police Department, Fort Madison Police Department, Lee County Sheriff’s Office, Ottumwa Police Department, Iowa Department of Corrections Fugitive Team, Coralville Police Department, and Iowa Division of Criminal Investigations.