Local and federal law enforcement officers were honored Monday by the U.S. attorney's office for their efforts in a 2013 multiagency sting operation targeting drug trafficking and violent crimes in Hot Springs.
The yearlong operation, dubbed "Spa City Special," culminated on June 13, 2013, with 24 arrests that resulted in 19 federal indictments, and all but three have since been sentenced to prison, with most receiving sentences of 10 years or more, according to Conner Eldridge, U.S. attorney for the Western District of Arkansas.
Those honored Monday during a ceremony at the Hot Springs Police Department included HSPD Lt. Larry Patrick, and detectives Carl Seymour, Omar Cervantes and Paul Allen, who all worked in the HSPD's street crimes division, although Cervantes and Allen could not attend because they were involved in training exercises elsewhere.
Also honored were Ken Blankenship, Russ Littleton and Warren Newman, all with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives from Little Rock. Assistant U.S. Attorney David Harris, who prosecuted the cases, handed out the plaques to each of the honored officers.
"I think it's really important after a successful operation to honor the folks who worked on it," Eldridge said, noting the officers did "an outstanding job" working together on the cases.
He noted the operation also involved the Garland County Sheriff's Department, the FBI, Arkansas State Police and the 18th Judicial District East Drug Task Force.
Eldridge said he was committed to Hot Springs and to working with local law enforcement and the ATF to combat the drugs and violence in Hot Springs.
"This is important work and I will continue that commitment because there is still a significant violence problem in Hot Springs and it will take a sustained effort," he said.
"We want to send the message that Hot Springs is not forgotten.
"We will continue to work to get the really bad folks into prison for a long time."
Harris spoke briefly, noting it was "an honor and pleasure" working with the officers involved, beginning in March 2012 when they all got together and "I asked them, 'Who are the targets?' and they gave us a list and then ya'll went to work."
He said the operation involved more than 80 controlled buys, the seizure of numerous firearms and "a lot of crack cocaine."
"You took a lot of criminals off the streets and spent a lot of long nights away from your families."
Eldridge had said previously the operation was the "latest in a long line" of operations targeting the drug and gun violence problem in all parts of the Western District, from Texarkana to El Dorado to Hot Springs, "with all agencies dedicated to coming together to identify the violent offenders."
The charges include the distribution of methamphetamines and crack cocaine, possession of firearms in furtherance of drug trafficking crime, and being a felon in possession of a firearm. It was noted that all but one of the suspects had prior felony convictions and several were considered career offenders.
Patrick had said previously the narcotics network "had 100 kilos coming through Hot Springs" and their operation "put a huge dent" in it.
Local on 09/30/2014