PHOENIX, AZ—The FBI’s Phoenix Field Office announced today that the Desert Hawk Violent Crime Task Force (DHVCTF) has reached a milestone by recording its 1000th arrest.

The DHVCTF was materialized by FBI Phoenix in 2017 when the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office Fugitive Apprehension Tactical Enforcement Unit (F.A.T.E.) joined the task force with the sole purpose of arresting the most violent fugitives across Maricopa County. The task force consists of agents, deputies and officers from the FBI, the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office, United States Border Patrol, as well as the Phoenix and Peoria police departments.

“Violent fugitives should understand that life on the run usually ends in handcuffs,” said Akil Davis, special agent in charge of the FBI’s Phoenix Field Office. “This offender, the nine hundred ninety-nine before him and those who will be caught in the future need to understand that no matter where they hide or for how long, the FBI and partners will track them down and bring them to justice.”

The DHVCTF works both state and federal violations and brings forth the capabilities, techniques, and tactics of its partner agencies as force multipliers to capture violent criminals who may be involved in murder, child crimes and aggravated assaults among other violations.

The 1000th arrest was of a Maricopa County man last week wanted for armed robbery.