Operation targets violent crime in Northern Ohio

Staff report

The Youngstown Police Department was among dozens of law enforcement agencies involved in a northern Ohio violent crime crackdown known as Operation Northern Shield, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Ohio.

Hundreds of individuals were taken into custody throughout northern Ohio as part of the multi-agency strategic initiative to combat violent crime. The multi-jurisdictional sweep across eight cities was coordinated among federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies and task forces.

In May, June, and July, more than 600 people were arrested and nearly 200 firearms were seized, along with varying amounts of fentanyl, crack cocaine, methamphetamine, cocaine, illicit drugs and U.S. currency. Approximately 264 of these arrests came from surges into individual cities, and an additional 355 arrests were from other areas across the District.

"Operation Northern Shield was a different strategy than what was done before. We've never targeted multiple cities simultaneously. But we knew that, historically, rising temps in the summer months tend to correlate with rising crime and we needed to act swiftly across our region, not just in one area," said U.S. Attorney David M. Toepfer for the Northern District of Ohio. "We were determined to shield our communities with the highest crime areas. We especially would like to thank the U.S. Marshals Service for taking the lead in this effort to align state and local agencies and resources to take down some of the most wanted criminals in our District while continuing to perform their regular work to hunt down fugitives."

"Operation Northern Shield succeeded because agencies did not work in silos, they worked as one team. This is what successful multi-agency operations look like. Different patches, uniforms, and chains of command, one mission making northern Ohio safer," said U.S. Marshal Pete Elliott. "For 23 years our U.S. Marshals Service and the Northern Ohio Violent Fugitive Task Force was built on and sustained through our partnerships. My special thanks to all the federal, state and local officers, assistant U.S. attorneys, and crime analysts who put in the long hours to make this operation a complete success, ensuring the safety of our communities."

Plans for Operation Northern Shield began in early 2026, with the goal to partner with local law enforcement agencies in a cohesive and integrated effort to target and apprehend violent fugitives in eight northern Ohio cities including Youngstown, Akron, Cleveland, Lorain, Elyria, Canton, Mansfield and Toledo.

Fugitives were wanted for crimes of violence such as homicide, manslaughter, assault, robbery and sex offenses. Other offenses involved human trafficking, firearms and illegal drugs.

Overall, Operation Northern Shield yielded the following totals from May 17 to July 18:

• 619 arrested.

• 684 warrants cleared.

• 29 (suspected) gang members arrested.

• 317 kilograms of narcotics seized (methamphetamine, cocaine, ecstasy and fentanyl).

• 6 pounds of marijuana seized.

• $120,200 in cash seized.

• 198 firearms, two suppressors, two machine gun conversion devices, one inert grenade and two sets of ballistic body armor seized.

Many of those apprehended will face state charges, and several are expected to be referred for federal prosecution where appropriate.

Among those arrested who are facing federal charges are:

• Sidney Booty, 47, of Cleveland, a previously convicted felon who was allegedly found possessing an illegal firearm, a silencer and methamphetamine that he intended to distribute and sell.

• Marcus Brown, 36, and Terence Montgomery, 32, both of Cleveland, were allegedly part of a drug conspiracy that trafficked fentanyl, crack and cocaine. They are also charged with interstate transportation in aid of racketeering.

Operation Northern Shield was led by the U.S. Marshals Service (USMS) for the Northern District of Ohio. Toepfer would like to gratefully acknowledge the following agencies for each of their roles in this successful operation to keep Northern Ohio communities safe:

• USMS Northern Ohio Violent Fugitive Task Force teams from Akron, Canton, Lorain, Mansfield, Painesville, Toledo and Cleveland

• USMS Special Operations Group, K-9 Team

• Ohio State Highway Patrol Special Response Team

• Ohio Adult Parole Authority

• USMS Southern District of Ohio Fugitive Apprehension Strike Team

• Akron Police Department, Gun Violence Reduction Team

• Cleveland Division of Police

• Canton Police Department

• Elyria Police Department

• Lorain Police Department

• Mansfield Police Department

• Toledo Police Department

• Youngstown Police Department

• Wyandot County Sheriff's Office

• ATF

• DEA

• FBI Cleveland Division

• U.S. Secret Service