OPERATION OBSCURE

First Precinct patrol officers and GID perform a best case of investigative teamwork

Photo above, from left: Detective Jamal Slaughter, Sergeant William Walker, Detective Brittany Black and Corporal Raymond Grissett.

GID investigators of the First Precinct took commercial burglars by surprise in Operation Obscure. The operation was launched September 10 as a way to target commercial burglaries that had been occurring throughout various areas of the precinct. Two prime suspects were captured.

The operation, which enlisted covert surveillance and directive patrols, was a success on the first day of its implementation. Officer Mark Coombe provided the investigators with information obtained from his keen work of conducting field interviews of suspected burglars following an incident on Duval Street.

With the provided information, Lieutenant Tina Zanca, Officer Arak Young and Officer Luther Homsher were able to capture the suspects committing a burglary on Holcombe Avenue. These efforts in turn yielded numerous confessions to other commercial burglaries occurring throughout the precinct and identified other potential players.

On September 17, the GID investigators, with the assistance of the Street Enforcement Team and SWAT, conducted search warrants at the residences located at E Street, Rotterdam Street and Johnson Avenue. An enormous amount of property related to the previously committed burglaries was recovered. This investigation remains continuous into the apprehension of other involved parties.