U.S. Marshals swoop in on fugitives from justice
EUGENE, Ore. -- Guns drawn, the men dressed in black body armor move in towards the last known address of Michael Mihalovich, a man wanted for failing to show up in court.
"His charges stem from drug charges," says Cory Cunningham with the U.S. Marshals Services. "With that, we don't know what to expect, so we always go in expecting the worst -- and hope for the best."
This is Operation Falcon, a nationwide effort to arrest fugitives from justice. In June, marshals arrested 271 people in Oregon, 42 of them in Lane County. Nationwide, the effort rounded up 35,000 fugitives.
KVAL News followed the marshals as they tracked the fugitives to their last known addresses and neighborhoods. In order to not tip off fugitives to the operation, KVAL News and other news organizations agreed not to report on Operation Falcon -- unitl now.
"Police, U.S. marshals with a warrant!"
A man opens the door, and the marshals discover several full grown marijuana plants on the premises. He says he has the paperwork to grow the plants under Oregon's medicinal marijuana laws.
The fugitive isn't here.
The marshals head to the Glenwood area, looking for another man wanted on parole violations stemming from burglary and vehicle theft charges. They stake out a bus stop. When he gets off the bus, he unknowingly walks right over to the marshals.
"Did you know about the warrant?" they ask him.
"Yes," he says.
He's headed to the Lane County jail. Despite new funding, there's still not enough money to hold every offender in jail. This fugitive will likely be released the same night.
"It's frustrating, I try not to take it personally," Cunningham said. "Our job is take them to the jail. It's out of our hands at that point."
Next, the marshals track a man wanted for assault with firearms charges to an apartment.
No one answers repeated knocks, so they head inside.
"U.S. marshals with an arrest warrant!"
No one is home.
Does it take a lot of luck to catch a fugitive?
"Patience is a better word, I think," Cunningham says.
Sometimes patience pays off. Remember Michael Mihalovich?
Officers tracked him down and arrested him the next day.
