Law Enforcement Arrest 45 Sex Offenders During Special Operation

Federal agents have been knocking on hundreds of doors in the Central Valley, trying to track down sex offenders and make sure they are following the law.

U.S. Marshals and local law enforcement officers have been conducting “Operation Guardian Angel” over the last 10 days in an effort to make sure that sex offenders in Fresno and Madera counties are registered, are living at the correct address, and don’t have any warrants out for their arrest.

During the operation, deputies and parole agents were able to identify where 1,297 sex offenders live. Of those, they arrested 45 for having warrants or being out of compliance. After the operation, several offenders who were not located showed up at their local police agency.

“We had about five or 10 people come in and want to turn themselves in because they heard we were looking for them,” said Madera County Sheriff John Anderson.

In addition, investigators say that prior to the operation, dozens of sex offenders registered because they heard that law enforcement was coming.

Fresno Police Chief Jerry Dyer was happy to report that only 5 percent of Fresno’s sex offenders were out of compliance, which is down from the 15 to 20 percent that were out of compliance two years ago.

“It’s thanks to operations like Guardian Angel that has allowed us to achieve that,” Dyer said.

Officials are hoping to make compliance checks like this one at least twice a year.

“I believe that it sends a strong message throughout the neighborhoods that we care,” Dyer said.

Read More:

KSEE: Central Valley Law Enforcement Track Down Sex Offenders

CBS47: Operation Guardian Angel