ETOWAH COUNTY, AL (WBRC) -
Etowah County authorities began their day two hours before sunrise, looking for nearly 200 suspects on various charges, bond failures and owed court costs.
"Operation No Excuse" came after warnings to many of the 46 people arrested.
"Most of this is going to be repeat offenders, most felonies and [some] misdemeanors, but mostly felonies," Gadsden Police Chief John Crane said.
A spokesperson for the Etowah County Sheriff's Office says that 95 percent of the warrants were for felonies and the misdemeanors ranged from non-support to writing bad checks.
Four teams of officers and deputies hit the streets to follow up on 235 warrants. At the scene of one arrest, deputies say they found freshly cooked meth and a suspect reluctant to claim it. The Sheriff's Office said that small quantities marijuana and cocaine were also seized.
Many of the arrests were for "pay or stay" situations, which means the suspects failed to pay court-ordered restitution.
"It sends a clear message to our community that we are taking this stuff serious. It also sends a message to the criminal element that there's no excuse, we're coming after you," Crane said.
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Deputies escort a suspect to their vehicles during the warrant round up. Source: WBRC video
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