Nearly 100 arrested in Danville through multi-agency undercover operation

DANVILLE, Va. (WDBJ) - Nearly 100 people accused of violent crimes are now behind bars after a week-long undercover operation in Danville called Operation Washout: No Limits.

The collaboration between 89 officers from more than 12 local, state, and federal agencies was in efforts to reduce violent crime in the city.

Operation Washout: No Limits took place from October 27-31.

Some of the departments involved included the FBI, the Department of Homeland Security, Virginia State Police, the Danville Police Department, and more.

Matt Davis with the United States Marshal Service says the name of the operation emphasizes that there are no limits to which officers can lawfully go to protect citizens.

“Not only were violent persons taken off the street here in Danville and Pittsylvania County and in multiple other jurisdictions from warrants stemming from here, but multiple investigations were untaken by the people standing behind me and their agencies,” said Matt Davis, United States Marshal for the Western District of Virginia.

Over the course of the five-day operation, they arrested 96 people who were wanted on felony charges like homicide, robbery, rape, child cruelty, and others.

“It’s never good news when we have citizens putting drugs on our streets,” said Danville Mayor Alonzo Jones. “We don’t want to see people arrested, but at the same time, we want to see people obey the law. What we’re excited about for the city of Danville is those partnerships.”

They also seized 15 guns, 28 grams of cocaine, and 4.5 grams of Methamphetamine.

They also removed 55 grams of fentanyl from the streets of Danville - enough lethal doses to kill over 27,000 people.

“When we start an operation like this, we really don’t know what we’re going to come across,” said John Dixon, Danville Police Department Captain of the Investigations Bureau. “When you bring in this many law enforcement assets, I did believe it was going to be a success. 55 grams of fentanyl is a lot of fentanyl. I can’t say that we expected to recover that much, but we are happy with the success of the operation.”

While the operation showed significant results, they say many of the investigations are ongoing and more arrests are expected.