AUGUSTA — Eight people were arrested Thursday night and dozens more checked on as law enforcement agents conducted a city sweep of people who were on probation and parole.

The effort was part of Operation Unified Front, according to a press release Friday night from Augusta Police Deputy Chief Jared Mills.

Additional Images

Probation Officer Mark Fortin, left, and Augusta Police Officer Ben Murtiff detain a parolee Thursday after searching his Augusta apartment during a sweep by several law enforcement agencies through the city. Federal, state, county and corrections officers assisted Augusta police in checking multiple individuals on probation in Augusta for violations of their terms of release. Staff photo by Andy Molloy

Mills said eight arrests resulted from the effort, and law enforcement officials also conducted 49 field interviews, 60 community contacts, eight bail and pre-trial checks, 56 probation checks, 36 registered sex offender checks, 15 warrant checks, and 55 house and vehicle searches.

“All of the agencies teamed up and went out into areas within the city of Augusta where there is known criminal activity,” he said in the press release. “Some officials talked with residents, conducted compliance checks on registered sex offenders, probationers, individuals released on bail, while others identified and addressed crimes in progress and suspects with active warrants for their arrest.”

Agencies involved included the Augusta Police Department, the Maine State Police, Kennebec County Sheriff’s Office, Maine Drug Enforcement, U.S. Marshal’s Service, the Violent Crimes Task Force out of Lewiston, the Department of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, the Department of Corrections Probation and Parole Dept., Maine Pre-Trial, and the district attorney’s office.

“We anticipate conducting similar operations in the future because it was such a success,” Mills said.

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