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Samantha Hayes Reporting"These people who are the worst of the worst, we are putting our fingers on them and we are not taking them off."
Police highlight an aggressive effort to get violent career criminals off the streets. "Operation Predator" aims to take repeat violent offenders off the streets when they are found with a firearm. So far the effort has put several criminals back behind bars for at least 15 years.
Police say the type of criminals they are targeting in Project Safe Neighborhoods have no regard for law enforcement and are a danger to the public. Jeremiah West was no stranger to law enforcement when he tried to get away on August 9th outside a Lehi convenience store.
Marvin Richardson, Special Agent in Charge: "He's caught with a sawed off shotgun. Fortunately the police officer that arrested him that day was able to see that flag in the system when his name was rung."
Police knew he was dangerous; West had three prior felony convictions. He tried to escape this time by ramming his Jeep into their patrol cars. He was also armed with a sawed-off shotgun. West is what police consider a career criminal, and under the initiative "Operation Predator", will face at least 15 years in prison.
Paul Warner, U.S. Attorney: "The individuals I talked about aren't enjoying this day in Utah. They've been convicted and sent off to federal prisons not in this state."
Operation Predator targets criminals who have three or more violent felony or drug trafficking convictions and are found with a firearm. Five have now been convicted and sentenced under Operation Predator. Seven more cases are pending. And the minimum sentence is 15 years.
Marvin Richardson: "We are looking at them proactively. We identify them, we look for them before they can commit those crimes against innocent citizens in the community."
