Fugitives nabbed during warrant sweeps

Fugitives nabbed during warrant sweeps

The streets of Chicago are presumed a little safer after authorities rounded up 252 fugitives on outstanding warrants throughout the Chicagoland area over a one-week period.

At a press conference Monday, Cook County Sheriff Michael F. Sheehan and Chicago Police Superintendent Terry G. Hillard said the one-week sweep, conducted by officers from the Sheriff's Police Fugitive, Gang Crimes and Narcotics Unit and investigators from the Police Narcotics and Gang Investigations Section, concluded with the fugitives being processed at the Sheriff's Fugitive Warrants Office and being sent to the Cook County Jail where they will await trial on a variety of charges.

"These individuals arrogantly thumbed their noses at the courts and thought they could get away with breaking the law," Sheehan said. "This warrant sweep sends a clear message to all fugitives in Cook County that they are being tracked by police and will be caught."

Headlining the list of those nabbed in the sweep was 24-year-old James Cross of the 6000 block of South Honore; 28-year-old Tommy Williams of the 6900 block of South Lowe and 18-year-old James Daley of the 5000 block of South Central Avenue in Stickney Township.

Cross was taken in on an outstanding warrant for unlawful use of a weapon. Police said when they approached him in front of his residence last Tuesday, he began to flee on foot and subsequently attempted to pull a handgun from his waist band.

One of the officers eventually tackled Cross and wrestled the gun away from him without a shot being fired. Officers recovered a .40-caliber, semi-automatic Glock equipped with a laser sight.

Cross, an active gang member, was also charged with resisting arrest.

Williams, who had previously been arrested 38 times with eight convictions to his credit, was arrested on a possession of a controlled substance warrant.

Daley, also an active gang member with seven convictions to his credit, was arrested on an armed robbery warrant.

Speaking at Monday's conference, Hillard said "This joint operation is just one example of our cooperative strategies to attack gang and drug violence. The apprehension of so many repeat offenders leaves no doubt in my mind that these arrests have prevented potential crimes from occurring.

Last week's sweep is the latest in a series of fugitive sweeps conducted by Sheriff's Police over the last several years. Prior sweeps targeted fugitives wanted for domestic violence, DUI, welfare fraud, deceptive practices and failure to make child support payments.

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