(WXYZ) — On Monday Warren Police announced multiple arrests after a major operation in the city, called "Operation P.E.A.C.E.
The operation lasted 5 days from May 3- May 7, resulting in 18 search warrants, 39 arrests, more than 67 felony charges and 41 still outstanding felony warrants.
Those arrested come from Centerline, Detroit, Eastpointe, Hazel Park, St. Clair Shores, Sterling Heights and Warren.
According to police, the department planned and executed the operation to address issues including drug overdoses, illegal drug sales, prostitution and more.
“Again these are very dangerous assignments," said Warren Police Commissioner Bill Dwyer. "When you execute 18 search warrants, you never know what’s behind the door of the location you’re raiding.”
Behind those doors were large amounts of cash, drugs, and guns. Mark and Daniel Weimann, a father and son, were arrested for disinterment and mutilation of a dead body. Police secured a warrant for their arrest in connection to a body found in a Warren dentist office parking lot last month.
It's not clear whether the mutilation charge stems from that case, or potentially other evidence found in their home during the raid.
“That’s very possible,” Dwyer said when asked.
Police also busted a prostitution house near 9 Mile and Hoover, and a drug house near 8 Mile and Van Dyke where they arrested suspects Jimmy Harrison and April Garmany. Police also did a number of undercover buys at Warren Manor apartments, where on multiple occasions officers were able to purchase fentanyl.
"Addiction is so prevalent in our society and if you don't know someone, you know someone that knows someone that has experienced this,” said mother Diane Porter.
In 2014, Diane Porter’s 29 year old son Rod, who suffered from addiction, died from fentanyl poisoning in Warren.
“He did not know what he was taking was fentanyl laced, and that was his demise,” Porter said.
One of the 39 suspects was arrested in connection to a fentanyl death. The drug is one of a number of drugs found in the raids.
"That means they’ve gone into the neighborhoods, they’ve raided drug houses and they’ve taken off the streets people that have fentanyl and push fentanyl,” said Warren Mayor Jim Fouts. "This operation today has probably saved lives and probably prevented crimes.”
Police hope these arrests will make the community safer, and Diane feels it will by saving the lives of people like her son.
“It makes me very happy to know that maybe some lives will be saved by these people who are being arrested,” Porter said.
