HOUSTON — Ten cities across the country were chosen by the Department of Justice to target violent crime this summer and Houston was one of them. U.S. Marshals joined forces with local law enforcement to arrest wanted fugitives across our area during the month of June.
“There’s been a rise in violent crime here in the Houston area and it’s been identified as one of 10 cities in America," Deputy U.S. Marshal Cameron Welch said.
The federal funds went to overtime, enabling law enforcement agencies to put extra manpower on the streets.
“We are here to make a difference in your communities. Evil needs to be removed," U.S. Marshal of the Southern District of Texas T. Michael O’Conner said.
In Operation North Star, there were 152 arrests in the Houston-area. While KHOU 11 was with the U.S. Marshals and deputy constables with Harris County Precinct 1, they arrested Ronnie Scott, 27, on a warrant for capital murder.
“People that are willing a gun in your face or shoot at you or murder you, even though it’s the allegation, I understand that, we want to have them off the street," Precinct 1 Constable Alan Rosen said.
According to court documents, Scott was out on bond for two aggravated robberies, but the capital murder charge isn’t new. It happened one hour after one of those robberies in February 2021.
Houston police said Scott was part of a duo behind carjackings in southwest Houston.
Donnie Glover was killed in one of those carjackings on Linkwood Drive. He told 911: “Somebody just tried to steal my car. I just had to run,” before he died.
“The offenders that this group is going after are the worst of the worst," Harris County District Attorney Kim Ogg said. "They present the greatest threat to law enforcement, the community and their own families."
The other arrest U.S. Marshals made was Lascell Butler, 28. He had active warrants for two armed robberies.
“During the armed robberies they were focusing on high-end lawn equipment and they were robbing these individuals at gunpoint," Welch said.
Butler was not out on bond but does have prior convictions for evading arrest and burglary.
In court documents, prosecutors said he “committed at least two aggravated robberies within approximately one week at two separate locations. Defendant poses a risk to the safety of the community."
“We are going to keep going after violent offenders. We are not going to step down," Houston Police Chief Troy Finner said.
KHOU 11 called the defense attorneys representing Scott and Butler. Neither was ready to comment. Scott is being held on a $2 million bond and Butler on a combined $125,000 bond in three cases.