East St. Louis Crackdown Leads to 25 Felony Charges

Illinois law enforcement authorities have once again turned their electric eye toward the East St. Louis metro area and that effort has resulted in 25 felony charges being filed.

The Public Information Office of the Illinois State Police recently shared the numbers from a crackdown that they and other East St. Louis law enforcement agencies completed in that area with a focus on violent crime and offenders. Their press release said that using new technology they were operating in "known high crime areas, violent offenders, and structured criminal groups in the communities of the Metro East". Here is the result of that two-night operation completed May 13 and May 14:

• Arrests 23
• Total Criminal Charges 33
• Felony Charges 25
• Firearm Related Charges 15
• Firearms Seized/Recovered 11 (3 stolen)
• Cannabis Seized 818 grams
• Controlled Substance Seized 93 grams
• Stolen Vehicle Recoveries 2

The task forces investigated individuals who were reported to be carrying loaded firearms and had several probably cause searches during traffic stops that led to these many charges being filed. This was a multi-agency effort that they say included Troops 6, 7, 8, and 10 patrol, ISP Fatal 4 South, Zone 6 Firearms Investigations Unit, Public Safety Enforcement Group (PSEG), Crime Scene Services, ISP SWAT, ISP Air Operations, and FBI,  and assisted ISP Statewide Anti-Violence Enforcement (SAVE). The Metropolitan Enforcement Group of Southern Illinois was also part of the support group.