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"Operation Street Sweeper” Nets over 70 Arrests & 16 More Guns Seized

Two Days of Raids targets recent crime areas

Mayor Byron W. Brown and Police Commissioner Daniel Derenda announced today the results of “Operation Street Sweeper” that culminated with 76 arrests, 16 more guns taken off the streets and drugs such as crack cocaine, heroin and marijuana confiscated.

The two day operation took place June 6th and 7th and stretched from the east side to the west side that included 100 search warrants.

Mayor Brown said of “Operation Street Sweeper”, “We continue to ratchet up the pressure on the criminal element. Just in the last couple of days our police department netted 9 guns in a gun trafficking operation and then just yesterday we launched “Strike Force” to turn up the heat on the criminals even more during the summer months.”

“Operation Street Sweeper” targeted areas where recent violent incidents have occurred.

“The two days of raids should continue to send the message that our crackdown from quality of life issues to violent crime issues is in full force, said Commissioner Daniel Derenda. He added, “ Crime in the city continues to fall because of our commitment to get criminals off the street.”

Since 2006, overall crime is down 15 %, with violent crime down 9%. And so far this year, Buffalo police have removed over 340 guns from the streets.

Of the 76 arrests, 6 were made at one address at 45 Goodyear Avenue plus 4 more at 16 Kilhoffer Avenue.

“Operation Street Sweeper” was the third round of police raids this year, netting over 160 arrests.

In this latest operation, authorities confiscated 6.5 oz. of crack cocaine, 20 grams of heroin and 61 oz. of marijuana plus the seizure of pills and other drug paraphernalia.

Buffalo police, Buffalo Narcotics Squad, Buffalo SWAT and the Buffalo K-9 Unit led the operation. They were assisted by numerous agencies including SWAT units from Erie County Sheriffs, Cheektowaga police, Hamburg police, Lancaster police, NFTA police and Town of Tonawanda police. Also assisting in the operation were DEA, State police, Niagara County Sheriffs, West Seneca police, United States Marshal Service and Erie County Probation officers.