“Operation Hopscotch” nets 62 arrests in Grant, Chelan and Douglas counties

An operation involving federal and Washington law enforcement has led to the arrest of 62 “violent offenders” on mostly state charges as part of an effort called “Operation Hopscotch” in Grant, Douglas and Chelan counties.

The U.S. Attorney’s office announced the 10-day operation Monday which included Homeland Security, U.S. Border Patrol, the U.S. Marshals Service and Pacific Northwest Violent Offender Task Force. Also included in the operation were sheriff’s offices from Grant, Chelan and Douglas counties and police investigators from Moses Lake, Wenatchee and East Wenatchee.

U.S. Attorney Joseph Harrington said federal agencies worked to assist the counties but that most of the charges, which included statutory rape and escape warrants, will be prosecuted in state courts.

Some of the arrest warrants were issued from California and Idaho and it included arrests of offenders in Arizona and Texas, according to the news release.

Sixty two “violent offenders with active warrants were arrested and taken to jail,” said local U.S. Marshal Craig Thayer. “Our communities are safer as a result of these cooperative efforts that help hold these violent offenders accountable to the justice system.”

Also seized during the arrests were a total of 180 grams of methamphetamine and $2,000 in counterfeit U.S. currency.