Seattle Police conduct “Operation Grinch” downtown

In early October 2010 the Seattle Police Department initiated an on-going narcotics operation (Operation Grinch) that focused on the downtown shopping district.  The goal of the operation was to reduce street violence and organized criminal activity. 

SPD resources utilized for the operation included West Precinct patrol, the West Precinct Anti-Crime Team, the Gang Unit and the Narcotics Unit.  Elements of the FBI’s Safe Streets Task Force and the Department of Corrections also participated in the operation.

During the course of the operation, narcotics were purchased from 27 different suspects.  All of these suspects were positively identified and there was probable cause for their arrest.  The following is a synopsis of the arrests:    

On November 22^nd, a total of seven suspects were arrested in the downtown business district from 1:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.  Six suspects were arrested for felony narcotics violations (VUCSA) based on probable cause and one suspect was arrested for being a convicted felon in possession of a gun (the handgun was seized and placed into evidence).  All seven suspects were booked into the King County Jail. 

Additionally, five suspects of the original 27 were arrested the weekend prior to November 22^nd on other unrelated charges.  SPD will be requesting that all five of those suspects be charged with narcotics violations in addition to the other charges they are facing unrelated to the operation.  

On December 1^st another seven suspects were arrested by SPD.  Six suspects were arrested for felony narcotics violations.  Three were from the original 27 cases.  One was a Department of Corrections detainer.  All of these suspects were booked into the King County Jail.

SPD recovered 12 ounces of heroin and one handgun during the course of these arrests.

The 27 original cases will be filed with the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office and SODA orders (Stay Out of Drug Areas) will be placed on all of the suspects. 

The remaining 13 suspects still at large out of the original 27 cases will have felony warrants issued for their arrest.