Dayton, Ohio – A coordinated law enforcement operation in Dayton led to multiple arrests and the removal of illegal weapons from the streets, as officers targeted repeat offenders linked to violent crime. The February 12, 2026 operation resulted in nine felony arrests, the seizure of three illegally possessed firearms, and the recovery of a stolen vehicle.
The effort was conducted through a partnership between the Dayton Police Department and the Ohio State Highway Patrol as part of Mike DeWine’s Violent Crime Reduction Initiative. The statewide initiative brings together local, state, and federal agencies to carry out data-driven operations aimed at identifying and arresting repeat offenders responsible for much of the violence in their communities.
“These statewide violent crime reduction operations have proven beneficial in getting drugs, illegally possessed guns, and violent offenders off the streets,” said Governor DeWine. “The State of Ohio remains fully committed to supporting local agencies as they work to hold repeat offenders accountable for their crimes.”
Vehicle pursuit leads to arrest and drug seizure
At approximately 9:25 p.m., officers and troopers observed suspicious drug-related activity between two vehicles at a gas station on Gettysburg Avenue. Officers activated emergency lights to stop one of the vehicles, but the driver — identified as Brandy Strickland, 29 — fled the scene…