“OPERATION DIME DROP” NETS SEVERAL ARRESTS / MORE ARRESTS FORTHCOMING

SECTION: El Paso County Sheriff's Office (STRIKE TEAM / CID DETECTIVES)

EVENT: “OPERATION DIME DROP” NETS SEVERAL ARRESTS / MORE ARRESTS FORTHCOMING

LOCATION OF OCCURRENCE: SPARKS / HORIZON AREA – EL PASO COUNTY, TX

DATE / TIME: June 2010

RESULT: SEVERAL ARRESTS MADE

EL PASO COUNTY, TX- After several weeks of investigations, on Monday 06-14-10 the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office concluded operation “Dime Drop”. The operation was in direct response to an ongoing rash of Burglaries in the Horizon area. EPCSO Strike Team had been actively monitoring reported burglaries since the increase was identified through crime analysis.

Strike Team Deputies identified several subjects of interest that were involved in the burglaries and thefts. Undercover Deputies were embedded into the community to conduct surveillance & gather crucial information. As a result of these efforts, Deputies identified of a ring of subjects active in an organized Theft & Burglary ring operation in the Horizon/Sparks area.

Early last week Strike Team Deputies in partnership with Detectives from the Criminal Investigation Bureau (CIB) began to identify cases linked to this organized ring. Multiple cases were identified and associated to these subjects. During the investigation, it was learned that stolen property was taken to a residence in Sparks where it was either sold or exchanged for narcotics.

Strike Team Deputies conducted an intense investigation which resulted the identification of 4 key players within the organized ring.

More arrests and additional charges are forth coming as a result of this investigation. CIB Detectives and Strike Team Deputies are continuing with the investigating following up several leads as to the whereabouts of the stolen property.