More than 100 arrested in fugitive operation

By: | Times-Dispatch
Published: July 09, 2009

Local agents with the U.S. Marshals Service, working with more than a dozen regional police agencies, have arrested 105 people as part of Operation FALCON, a nationwide effort to locate and apprehend federal, state and local fugitives.

The 105 felony arrests have resulted in regional authorities clearing 176 outstanding arrest warrants for various fugitives throughout Central Virginia, officials said. Nationally, FALCON (Federal and Local Cops Organized Nationally) arrest teams made more than 35,000 arrests and cleared 47,000 warrants in the program's fifth year.

One of the more notable local arrests was fugitive Eric Parson, who authorities said was apprehended June 25 in Hopewell while in possession of 5.9 grams of crack cocaine and 12 grams of powder cocaine. He had been sought on a contempt of court charge.

With three drug convictions, Parson faces up to 18 years in a federal prison if convicted on his recent drug charge, authorities said in a release.Also arrested was Nathan S. Dennis, who was wanted by Hopewell police on charges of malicious wounding and felony hit-and-run and property damage for destruction to a Hopewell city building. Dennis also was being sought as a possible suspect in a series of shooting-related incidents in the city in recent months, authorities said. He was apprehended June 25 in Prince George County.

The local roundup was led by Richmond office of the Capital Area Regional Fugitive Task Force and the U.S. Marshals Service. The effort began June 1 and lasted through the end of the month.

Nineteen federal, state and local law enforcement agencies in central Virginia participated in the regional effort, including police in Richmond, Colonial Heights, Hopewell, Petersburg and the counties of Chesterfield, Henrico and Dinwiddie.

FALCON arrest teams made 24 arrests in Richmond, 16 in Henrico and Chesterfield and 23 in the Tri-Cities area, authorities said.

-- Mark Bowes