Operation Rolling Thunder: 55 Fugitives Arrested in Spokane County
Spokane County, WA – The Spokane County Sheriff’s Office, the Spokane Valley Police Department, and the United States Marshals Service Pacific Northwest Violent Offender Task Force have concluded a week-long fugitive apprehension operation, Operation Rolling Thunder. Between August 11 and August 15, 2025, a total of 55 arrests were made across Spokane County and Spokane Valley, including 51 felony arrests. Among those taken into custody were 29 violent felony offenders.
The U.S. Marshals led the operation, specifically targeting Spokane County’s most dangerous fugitives and repeat offenders. Those arrested were wanted for crimes including homicide, kidnapping, assault, burglary, child abuse, domestic violence, failure to register as a sex offender, firearm offenses, robbery, sexual assault, stalking, and theft.
Operation Rolling Thunder carried additional significance as it marked the first Homeland Security Task Force operation ever conducted in the Eastern District of Washington. By uniting federal, state, and local resources, law enforcement was able to concentrate on locating and apprehending the region’s most violent and repeat offenders. This operation played a vital role in both national security and public safety by deploying personnel and resources to safeguard communities against emerging threats. This operation strengthened collaborative partnerships and consolidated capabilities through intelligence-driven investigations targeting the most violent offenders for crimes of violence, drug trafficking, weapons offenses, sex offenses, and child exploitation.
“By leveraging cutting-edge investigative tools, intelligence analysis, and close partnerships with our law enforcement partners, we ensure that violent criminals are swiftly brought to justice,” said Craig Thayer, U.S. Marshal for the Eastern District of Washington.
Agencies contributing to the successful operation include: the Spokane County Sheriff’s Office, Spokane Valley Police Department, the Spokane County Sheriff’s Office Real time Crime Center, the Spokane County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Washington, United States Border Patrol, United States Marshals Service District of Idaho, United States Marshals Service District of Oregon, United States Marshals Service District of Western Washington, Walla Walla County Sheriff’s Office, Washington State Department of Corrections, Washington State Patrol, and Yakima Police Department.
The Pacific Northwest Violent Offender Task Force is a U.S. Marshals-led partnership comprising federal, state, and local law enforcement officers from Washington, Oregon, and Alaska. The task force’s primary mission is to locate, arrest and return to the justice system the most violent and egregious federal and state fugitives.
Anyone with information is urged to contact the nearest U.S. Marshals office, the U.S. Marshals Service Communications Center at 1-800-336-0102, or submit a USMS Web Tip.
Source: U.S. Marshals Service, usmarshals.gov
