The Selma Police Department (SPD) and other Alabama law enforcement groups made more mass arrests this month.

The most recent partnership yielded six arrests on Wednesday, Aug. 22.

SPD Chief Spencer Collier said agents with U.S. Marshals Service, DEA, ALEA Tactical Team and the 4th Judicial Task Force joined Selma narcotic officers and K-9 Units in a warrant service detail that lead to removal of five wanted criminals from Selma and surrounding communities.  Wanted individuals were apprehended as far away as Thomasville ad Montgomery.  Although the names of the arrested individuals are not being released, most targeted suspects were well known by local law enforcement.   

“Wednesday’s detail went very smooth and all arrests were without incident,” said Collier.  “In addition to the multiple arrests on warrants, a sixth individual was arrested after fleeing from one of the targeted residences.  The subject was arrested on the state charge of Certain Persons Prohibited from Carrying Firearms.  Those charges could be adopted federally, where the punishment is much more severe.”

Collier said this most recent detail follows a similar patrol saturation and warrant service operation that occurred on Aug. 10.  The Aug. 10 operation was led by ATF with SPD’s assistance.  Like Wednesday, that detail included multiple state and federal partners serving federal indictments on gun charges.  The two operations are the culmination of a collaborative and continuing strategic plan to aggressively target violent criminals and narcotic distributors in Selma.

“My administration remains committed to reducing crime and removing violent criminals from our community,” said Selma City Mayor Darrio Melton. “Making public safety a priority in Selma requires more than rhetoric.  Today’s operation demonstrates a continuous and ongoing strategic collaboration between the Selma Police Department and its state and federal partners.  We are grateful for their support and most importantly, their commitment.”

“The key to reducing crime is high officer presence, information sharing between law enforcement agencies and teamwork,” said Collier.  “The two details in August demonstrate the necessity and success of collaboration. I want to personally thank AG Chief Investigator Jimmy Lambert for coordinating today’s efforts. Finally, I want to be abundantly clear that we will not let up in our efforts. The pressure placed on criminals will be steady, strong and persistent … we are not going away.”