Cleveland, Ohio – More than 600 people were arrested and nearly 200 firearms were seized during a large law enforcement operation targeting violent fugitives and other suspected offenders across northern Ohio.
Operation Northern Shield brought federal, state and local law enforcement agencies together for a coordinated effort across eight cities. The operation focused on Akron, Cleveland, Lorain, Youngstown, Elyria, Canton, Mansfield and Toledo, while additional arrests were made elsewhere in the Northern District of Ohio.
Planning for the operation began in early 2026. Authorities designed the initiative to bring resources into several communities instead of concentrating enforcement efforts on only one city at a time.
The enforcement period ran from May 17 through July 18. Authorities reported 619 arrests and 684 warrants cleared during that period. Of the arrests, approximately 264 resulted from targeted surges into individual cities, while another 355 were made in other parts of the district.
U.S. Attorney David M. Toepfer said officials developed the strategy in part because of concerns about violent crime during the warmer summer months.
“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 targeted fugitives wanted for serious crimes
The U.S. Marshals Service for the Northern District of Ohio led Operation Northern Shield, working with numerous law enforcement agencies and specialized task forces.
Authorities focused heavily on finding fugitives wanted in connection with violent offenses. Those crimes included homicide, manslaughter, assault, robbery and sex offenses. Other individuals were wanted in cases involving firearms, illegal drugs and human trafficking.
Among the 619 people arrested were 29 suspected gang members.
U.S. Marshal Pete Elliott credited cooperation between participating agencies with making it possible to carry out the operation across such a large area.
“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 USMS (NOVFTF) 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.”
The operation also resulted in significant seizures of firearms, drugs and money.
Authorities reported recovering 198 firearms along with two suppressors and two machine gun conversion devices. Officers also seized one inert grenade and two sets of ballistic body armor.
Law enforcement recovered approximately 1.317 kilograms of narcotics during the initiative. The drugs included methamphetamine, cocaine, ecstasy and fentanyl. Six pounds of marijuana were also seized.
Authorities additionally recovered $120,200 in U.S. currency.
Some defendants could face federal prosecution
Many of the people arrested during Operation Northern Shield are expected to face charges at the state level. Authorities said several cases could also be referred for federal prosecution when appropriate.
Officials identified several defendants who are already facing federal charges.
Sidney Booty, 47, of Cleveland, is a previously convicted felon who authorities allege was illegally possessing a firearm. He was also allegedly found with a silencer and methamphetamine that investigators say he intended to distribute.
Two other Cleveland men, Marcus Brown, 36, and Terence Montgomery, 32, are accused of participating in a drug trafficking conspiracy. Federal authorities allege the conspiracy involved fentanyl, crack cocaine and cocaine. Both men also face charges of interstate transportation in aid of racketeering.
The allegations against defendants facing criminal charges remain accusations unless proven in court.
Operation Northern Shield involved a wide network of agencies. U.S. Marshals Service Northern Ohio Violent Fugitive Task Force teams from Akron, Canton, Lorain, Mansfield, Painesville, Toledo and Cleveland participated.
The U.S. Marshals Service Special Operations Group and K 9 Team also assisted, along with the Ohio State Highway Patrol Special Response Team, Ohio Adult Parole Authority and the U.S. Marshals Service Southern District of Ohio Fugitive Apprehension Strike Team.
Local agencies involved included the Akron Police Department Gun Violence Reduction Team and police departments in Cleveland, Canton, Elyria, Lorain, Mansfield, Toledo and Youngstown. The Wyandot County Sheriff’s Office also participated.
Federal partners included the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, Drug Enforcement Administration, FBI Cleveland Division and U.S. Secret Service.
With hundreds of arrests, hundreds of cleared warrants and significant seizures completed during the two month enforcement period, officials described Operation Northern Shield as a broad effort to combine resources across jurisdictional lines and target people wanted for serious offenses throughout northern Ohio.
