A six-month violent crime reduction initiative in Eastern Washington resulted in the arrests of more than 293 fugitives, the recovery of 55 firearms and the sei
A six-month violent crime reduction initiative in Eastern Washington resulted in the arrests of more than 293 fugitives, the recovery of 55 firearms and the seizure of about 455 pounds of narcotics, authorities said.
Operation Stampede, conducted March 2 through Sept. 11, focused on violent fugitives, gang activity, repeat offenders, firearm-related crime and narcotics trafficking, according to a news release Tuesday.
The effort involved the Spokane County Sheriff’s Office, Spokane Valley Police Department and the U.S. Marshals Service Pacific Northwest Violent Offender Task Force.
It focused primarily on Spokane, Spokane Valley, Spokane County, Yakima and Yakima County.
An image of U.S. Marshals arresting an individual in Eastern Washington during Operation Stampede in 2026. (U.S. Marshals office)In Spokane County and Spokane Valley, authorities made 100 arrests and seized 42 firearms.
Across the Eastern District of Washington, authorities said 88 of the people arrested were gang members or associates, 336 warrants were cleared, and $2.5 million was seized.
455 pounds of narcotics were seized, although a breakdown of the type of drugs was not released.
A related weeklong operation in Yakima County, conducted May 3-8, resulted in 28 arrests.
An image of U.S. Marshals arresting an individual in Eastern Washington during Operation Stampede in 2026. (U.S. Marshals office)The Yakima County Sheriff’s Office and Yakima Police Department targeted violent fugitives, gang members and sex offenders in Yakima and Yakima County.
The operation also supported Homeland Security Task Force investigations involving the Drug Enforcement Administration, Homeland Security Investigations, the FBI and the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
The work was intended to disrupt criminal cartels, foreign gangs and transnational criminal organizations, investigators said.
The length of Operation Stampede was unusual for a multiagency operation and was credited to participating law enforcement officers, prosecutors and analysts, U.S. Marshal Craig Thayer said.
Spokane County Sheriff John Nowels said partnerships were necessary to hold dangerous offenders accountable and said the operation made Spokane safer.
Spokane Valley Police Chief Dave Ellis said the operation showed what local and federal agencies could accomplish through coordinated enforcement.
