‘Warrant sweep’ operation that led to 19 indictments named after ‘Mr. Brightside’
Ryan Shiner
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)
The Department of Justice confirmed on Tuesday that the name of a law enforcement operation that led to several arrests in Columbia last week was named after a song by The Killers.
Operation Brightside — which resulted in 33 arrests and 19 indictments for mostly illegal gun possession – was named after “Mr. Brightside,” according to an email from US Attorney R. Matthew Price. The song by the alternative rock band was released in 2004 and has become a staple at home football games for the Missouri Tigers and other teams in the past several years.
“The name of the operation is based upon the song by the Killers ‘Mr. Brightside’ as this song is associated with the University of Missouri, and by extension Columbia in that the students will sing it in unison at Mizzou sporting events,” Price wrote in the email. “This act of unison among the student body is reminiscent of all of the federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies who participate in the VCAT speaking with one voice, through their actions, to say ‘enough is enough’ and we will act to confront and reduce violent crime in the Columbia area to make it a safer community.”
Various law enforcement agencies were seen on Thursday and Friday around Columbia to conduct what officials referred to as a “warrant sweep,” where people with federal warrants were arrested. Most of the charges the defendants were arrested for were being a felon with a gun, though some were also arrested on drug charges.
Federal, state and local law enforcement agencies held a press conference Monday at Columbia City Hall, and said all but one arrest were for felony warrants. Eight law enforcement agencies were involved in the operation.