ATLANTA – December 14, 2022 – To detect continued criminal activity and deter future criminal activity, the Georgia Department of Community Supervision (DCS), in conjunction with over 100 State, Federal, and local partners conducted warrant service, 4th Amendment searches, Parole searches, and field interviews with verified gang members primarily associated with known Street Gangs across the state between December 5 – December 9, 2022
While our mission is to ensure everyone under DCS supervision has the resources and support they need to succeed, we understand that unfortunately not every person will take advantage of these opportunities. Over the past several months, DCS and its partnering public safety agencies collected information on these individuals to ensure a swift and safe operation for local communities and all the law enforcement officers involved.
“Community Supervision Officers exhaust every resource and service available to provide opportunities for successful outcomes. It is unfortunate that some individuals choose not to take advantage of the support our Department so diligently provides,” stated Mr. James Bergman who serves as the Deputy Director of Field Operations overseeing the Special Operations Unit. Bergman further adds, “An operation of this magnitude requires seamless interagency collaboration–it is nearly impossible to do alone. DCS is grateful for the agencies and departments who have partnered with us to make this operation a success.”
Community Supervision Officers leverage many skills and function in many roles. One critical role our officers carry out is to protect neighborhoods across Georgia from dangerous individuals. These officers are on the ground everyday making meaningful contacts that provide valuable intelligence on individuals that have chosen to cast aside the desire to be productive members of society in favor of a desire to wreak havoc within their communities.
This intelligence-driven operation resulted in 358 searches, 175 arrests, 98 firearms were seized, and narcotics and gang paraphernalia were recovered.
Of that total, the Lookout Mountain Circuit DCS Team, along with partners from the Catoosa Sheriff’s Office, Lookout Mountain Judicial Circuit DTF, GBI, FBI, ATF, and HSI were responsible for seizing 16 firearms, effecting nine arrests during interactions with validated gang offenders, and dismantling a counterfeit pill press operation with the seizure of 90g each of fentanyl and methamphetamine
During the gang operation, Department of Community Supervision arrested Justin S Clayton, 36, of Ringgold, was arrested on December 5th, 2022, booked into the Catoosa County Jail, charged with felony probation violation, possession of firearm by a convicted felon during the commission of a felony, possession of firearm by a convicted felon, and trafficking meth.
