DPS reports 483 arrests in gang crackdown

Associated Press - March 28, 2008 8:24 PM ET

PHOENIX (AP) - Authorities say they've arrested nearly 500 criminal gang members across Arizona as part of a monthslong crackdown.

The state Department of Public Safety says 483 gang members were arrested on active felony warrants as part of "Operation Checkmate."

The DPS says the operation was run by DPS' gang and immigration task force along with the Mesa and Phoenix police departments, with support from numerous other law enforcement agencies.

According to DPS, the operation began in December and involved correlating information on suspects sought on warrants with documented gang members.

Crimes charged on the warrants include auto theft, aggravated assault, trafficking in stolen property, sexual assault and sale of narcotics

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