Sheriff Arpaio's 20th Crime Suppression Underway

Updated: Thursday, 06 Oct 2011, 6:12 PM MST
Published : Thursday, 06 Oct 2011, 5:41 PM MST

Maricopa County Sheriff's Posse members flooded the streets of southwest Phoenix and only on FOX 10 will you see exclusive video of Sheriff Arpaio's 20th crime sweep.

The sweep began around 2:30 p.m. Thursday and during the first few hours of the operation, deputies made 18 arrests, of which 11 are suspected illegal aliens.

"We've had some serious problems in this area. We have a police officer that was killed at the El Grande Mercado recently by an illegal alien. We've had a kidnapping of a person that owns a business," said Arpaio.

The Sheriff says his posse and deputies will spend the next two days blanketing the area between 19th and 51st Avenues and McDowell Road to Baseline Road. The goal is to find as many criminals as possible.

Some of the charges that suspects have been arrested for include possession and sale of marijuana, outstanding warrants, and forgery and identity theft.

In 2009, during a similar suppression in the area, 61 suspects were taken into custody. 30 were illegal immigrants.

While critics accuse the Sheriff of profiling during these sweeps, he says what this is about is taking criminals off the streets.

"This predominant for crime. I don't know if they're all illegal or half illegal. We don't take census of who lives here. It doesn't make any difference."

The crime suppression will continue through October 7.

http://www.myfoxphoenix.com/dpp/news/cr ... d-10062011