Joliet police arrest 21 in ‘Operation Streetsweeper,’ targeting guns, drugs, and burglary [Video]

JOLIET, Ill. – Joliet police have arrested 21 people as part of “Operation Streetsweeper,” a targeted effort focused on suspects involved in weapons, drugs, burglary, and theft offenses.

The operation, which began Wednesday, involved collaboration between Joliet police and various local and federal agencies.

“By removing these dangerous individuals from our street, we are taking significant steps to reduce the risk to our community,” said Joliet Police Chief Bill Evans.

Chief Evans said that while overall shootings in Joliet have decreased by 27 percent over the last two years, the summer has seen a recent increase in violent incidents, prompting the operation.

Authorities aimed to apprehend repeat offenders and those connected to recent crimes.

“We know where some of these people are. We know we can gain warrants on them. This would be a really good time to execute some of these warrants,” Evans said, explaining the timing of the operation.

On the …