23-05-2025
29 of 49 Rolling Thunder suspects already out of jail
MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Mugshots shown at City Hall Wednesday showed some of the 160 suspects arrested in the City of Memphis's Rolling Thunder Operation.
'These are the faces of violent individuals tied to murders and other gun violence, drug trafficking, auto theft, illegal weapons and other crimes that destabilize entire communities,' Police Chief C.J. Davis said.
But of the 49 criminals that were publicly shown, a further investigation from Your News Leader reveals that 29 of the 49 suspects shown here have already been released from jail. (See graphic below)
Memphis mayor: 'The era of unchecked violence in our city is over'
While some of the men still locked up were charged with serious crimes, some charged with non-violent offenses like drug possession.
Operation Rolling thunder was designed to target gang activity in the city from April 23 to May Keith Norman who has been following what's happening in the city closely believes the mayor announcing successful crime statistics was an appropriate response, given FBI Director Kash Patel saying Memphis was the homicide capital of America over the weekend.
FBI Director calls Memphis 'homicide capital of the USA'
'We do have a crime problem,' Norman said. 'However, to call us the homicide or murder capital, on that large of a scale was just really not an appropriate statement. And so for the mayor and the chief of police to make a counter statement by suggesting what we are doing does bring leadership and calmness to the law abiding citizens of our city to know that we're not just sitting around, twiddling my thumbs, so to speak.'
And as far as the 160 arrests in just 17 days, Pastor Norman believes while it might be harsh, but sometimes it's required.
'Ok, this is a high number. We're not happy with having to arrest our way out of this, but if it's required we've got to do it,' he said.
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