CHARLESTON, W.Va. —- U.S. Marshal Michael Baylous and partners came together Wednesday to announce the end of operation Mattock.
The U.S. Marshal’s, Cops United Felony Fugitive Enforcement Division or CUFFED task force, oversaw the three-week warranty operation, from September 9 to October 1, that resulted in 69 felony arrests.
Baylous said that the agencies involved in taking down the felons, were strong, and the reason why the operation was named Mattock after the gardening tool.
“It takes someone who is strong and determined to swing a mattock all day long. A mattock will test your resolve and your commitment,” Baylous said. “During operation Mattock, the CUFFED task force went into communities throughout southern West Virginia to get to the root of the problem and dig fugitives out of their hiding places, the results speak for themselves.”
While the task force oversaw the operation, there were more than just the U.S. Marshal’s office involved, some other agencies include West Virginia State Police, Kanawha County Sheriff’s Office, Cabell County Sheriff’s Office and many more. Baylous said that without the collaboration between the different agencies and departments, CUFFED would not have been able to make the arrests.
“Collaboration is very important to us in accomplishing the mission. That’s one thing we do very well here in West Virginia. You can see behind me here, there’s various agencies and departments that work with us on a daily basis,” Baylous said.
The operation lasted three weeks, and alongside the felony arrests, two notable individuals were arrested. One, Jamie Ray Jones was wanted in connection to kidnapping and attempted first degree murder and accessory after the fact of murder. The other suspect, Xavier Perkins was wanted in connection with absconding from home electric monitoring and failing to appear in circuit court for narcotics and probation violation.
Baylous said that these arrests and all of the accompanying ones make a huge impact in the communities.
“But, were making a difference in communities, we are impacting so many folks, hardworking, good people of southern West Virginia. We are helping with their quality of life,” Baylous said.
Baylous also cautioned any fugitive entering West Virginia, that the CUFFED task force will be watching for them.
“You know, I’ve been saying this for six and half years now, fugitives better take notice, because if you come into southern West Virginia CUFFED task force is going to find you. You can run and you can hide, but that just means that you’re going to go to jail tired, when you get there,” Baylous said.
Baylous praised the CUFFED task force on all of the hard work that they put in every day.
“I remind the members of the Cuffed task force how proud I am of them,” Baylous said. “In my thirty years of law enforcement experience, I’ve either worked with or witnessed many specialized units in action. In my opinion the CUFFED task force is the finest.”
The operation also led them in recovering 3.8 pounds of methamphetamine, 76.6 grams of fentanyl, 33 grams of crack cocaine and seven firearms. And also, among the arrests, two sex offenders were federally indicted on October 1, for violations of the Adam Walsh act and one critically missing child was also recovered during the operation.
Baylous made sure to note that the CUFFED task force is out there every day trying to arrest fugitives to keep the communities safe.