Cincinnati, Ohio – In a continued push to reduce violent crime and remove dangerous weapons from communities, two coordinated operations in Cincinnati led to multiple arrests and the seizure of several illegal firearms, highlighting the impact of joint law enforcement efforts across Ohio.
According to officials, the operations resulted in nine felony arrests and the confiscation of seven illegally possessed firearms. The actions were part of Ohio’s Violent Crime Reduction Initiative, which brings together local, state, and federal agencies to target repeat violent offenders through focused, data-driven strategies.
“Every illegal firearm and repeat violent offender we remove from our streets makes Ohio a safer place to live, work, and raise a family,” said Governor Mike DeWine. “By combining local, state, and federal resources, law enforcement is better equipped to stop criminals before they have a chance to cause harm.”
Traffic Stops Lead to Arrests and Seizures
One of the key operations took place on Thursday, March 12, when officers from the Cincinnati Police Department and troopers from the Ohio State Highway Patrol attempted to stop a 2006 Ford Taurus around 10 p.m. for investigative reasons. When troopers activated their emergency lights, the driver, later identified as 27-year-old Carmin Thomas, refused to stop and fled the scene.
The Ohio State Highway Patrol Aviation Unit tracked the vehicle from above while ground units ended the active pursuit to reduce risk. Shortly after, a Cincinnati police officer successfully used a tire deflation device to disable the vehicle. Thomas then exited the car and ran into a wooded area.
Officers gave repeated commands for him to stop, but he failed to comply. A taser was deployed, and he was taken into custody without further incident. Authorities later confirmed that Thomas had an active felony warrant for failure to comply tied to a previous case in Colerain Township. He now faces an additional charge related to the new incident.
Earlier that same evening, shortly before 7:30 p.m., officers conducted a separate traffic stop involving a 2016 blue Chevrolet Malibu near downtown Cincinnati. The stop was initiated for a window tint violation, but the situation quickly escalated.
A police K-9 unit conducted an open-air sniff around the vehicle and alerted to the presence of illegal drugs. This provided probable cause for officers to search the car. During the search, the driver, identified as 21-year-old Darryl Kidd III, attempted to flee.
Officers responded quickly, deploying a taser and taking Kidd into custody without further issues. A search of the vehicle uncovered two illegally possessed firearms. Kidd later admitted that both weapons belonged to him.
He now faces multiple charges, including having weapons while under disability, carrying a concealed weapon, receiving stolen property, and obstructing official business.
Broader Effort Targets Violent Crime
A second operation conducted on March 16 led to additional arrests, bringing the total number of individuals taken into custody across both efforts to nine. Those arrested during the operations face a range of charges, including drug trafficking, weapons violations, and obstruction-related offenses.
These operations are part of a broader statewide strategy aimed at reducing violence and improving public safety. Officials say that since the beginning of 2025, similar efforts across Ohio have led to the removal of hundreds of illegal firearms and the arrest of numerous violent offenders.
By focusing on collaboration between agencies such as the Cincinnati Police Department, Ohio State Highway Patrol, and Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office, authorities are working to disrupt criminal activity before it escalates further.
The results from these operations show how coordinated enforcement efforts can lead to immediate impacts, taking dangerous weapons off the streets and holding offenders accountable. As these initiatives continue, officials say they remain committed to protecting communities and reducing the threat of violent crime across the state.
