Cross-River Crime Task Force Makes Multiple Felony Arrests
EDWARDSVILLE - Eleven people were taken into custody on felony charges, two firearms were seized and a stolen vehicle was recovered during the latest deployment of the Cross-River Crime Task Force. The task force, which utilizes real-time data from Automatic License Plate Readers in conjunction with saturation patrols, conducted a 6-hour deployment Thursday evening in Granite City, Madison and Pontoon Beach. Major Nick Novacich, who serves as commander of the Cross-River Crime Task Force, said it was the unit’s largest deployment to date, with more than 40 officers. The officers conducted 108 traffic stops. “This unit is continuing to make a difference,” Novacich said. “The ultimate goal is to keep our communities and neighborhoods safe. The Cross-River Crime Task Force does that by using a proactive approach to crime prevention and by using technology to apprehend individuals who have already committed crimes.” The task force is comprised of select officer