Operation Northern Shield Leads to 619 Arrests, Nearly 200 Firearms Seized Across Northern Ohio
CLEVELAND — More than 600 people were arrested and nearly 200 firearms were seized during a sweeping, multi-agency crackdown targeting violent fugitives across northern Ohio, federal authorities announced Tuesday.
Operation Northern Shield brought together federal, state and local law enforcement agencies for coordinated enforcement efforts in Akron, Canton, Cleveland, Elyria, Lorain, Mansfield, Toledo and Youngstown.
The operation was conducted from May 17 through July 18 and resulted in 619 arrests and the clearing of 684 warrants, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Ohio.
Approximately 264 arrests were made during targeted enforcement surges in the eight cities. Another 355 arrests occurred elsewhere throughout the Northern District of Ohio.
Authorities said those arrested were wanted for offenses including homicide, manslaughter, assault, robbery and sex crimes. Other cases involved alleged human trafficking, firearms violations and illegal drugs.
“Operation Northern Shield was a different strategy than what was done before,” U.S. Attorney David M. Toepfer said. “We’ve never targeted multiple cities simultaneously.”
Toepfer said authorities planned the operation in anticipation of violent crime potentially increasing during the warmer summer months.
“We were determined to shield our communities with the highest crime areas,” Toepfer said. “We especially would like to thank the U.S. Marshals Service for taking the lead in this effort to align state and local agencies and resources to take down some of the most wanted criminals in our district while continuing to perform their regular work to hunt down fugitives.”
The operation resulted in the seizure of:
198 firearms
Two suppressors
Two machine gun conversion devices
One inert grenade
Two sets of ballistic body armor
Approximately 1.317 kilograms of suspected methamphetamine, cocaine, ecstasy and fentanyl
Six pounds of marijuana
$120,200 in U.S. currency
Authorities also identified 29 of those arrested as suspected gang members.
“Operation Northern Shield succeeded because agencies did not work in silos, they worked as one team,” U.S. Marshal Pete Elliott said. “Different patches, uniforms and chains of command, one mission making northern Ohio safer.”
Elliott thanked the federal, state and local officers, assistant U.S. attorneys and crime analysts who worked on the operation.
Many of those arrested will face charges in state courts, while several cases are expected to be referred for federal prosecution.
Among those facing federal charges is Sidney Booty, 47, of Cleveland. Federal authorities allege that Booty, who has a previous felony conviction, possessed an illegal firearm, a silencer and methamphetamine intended for distribution.
Marcus Brown, 36, and Terence Montgomery, 32, both of Cleveland, are accused of participating in a conspiracy to distribute fentanyl, crack cocaine and cocaine. They are also charged with interstate transportation in aid of racketeering.
The charges are allegations, and defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.
Planning for Operation Northern Shield began in early 2026. The initiative was led by the U.S. Marshals Service for the Northern District of Ohio and its Northern Ohio Violent Fugitive Task Force.
Participating agencies included U.S. Marshals task force teams from Akron, Canton, Cleveland, Lorain, Mansfield, Painesville and Toledo; the Ohio State Highway Patrol Special Response Team; Ohio Adult Parole Authority; Mansfield Police Department; Cleveland Division of Police; and police departments from Akron, Canton, Elyria, Lorain, Toledo and Youngstown.
The Wyandot County Sheriff’s Office, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Drug Enforcement Administration, FBI Cleveland Division, U.S. Secret Service and additional U.S. Marshals units also participated.
