Officers from the Gun Violence Suppression Unit and the University Proactive Response Team recently conducted an anti-crime operation within the University Area Command, leading to a significant arrest and seizure of illegal substances and weapons. Charles Casias, 44, was the focus of the operation when officers attempted to stop him on February 23, 2024, along Amherst. Casias's attempt to evade capture resulted in a collision with another vehicle near Rio Bravo.
Casias faced immediate legal consequences following the incident, as stated by authorities: "Casias was arrested on two felony warrants and was charged with Aggravated Fleeing an Officer, Traffic Accident Damaging a Vehicle, Concealing Identity, and for a Suspended Registration."
A subsequent search of Casias's vehicle on March 5, 2024, led to the discovery of a cache of illegal items. Among the items seized were firearms, narcotics, and ammunition. The seized items included a variety of illicit substances and weapons, as detailed in the inventory list.
The law enforcement officials involved in the case are diligently working to ensure that Casias remains in custody pending his trial: "Detectives with GVSU are working with the District Attorney’s Office to keep Casias detained until his trial." Authorities have also escalated the matter by involving federal partners due to the seriousness of the charges against Casias: "APD has also reached out to its federal partners to potentially adopt the case as Casias is a convicted felon who was armed while trafficking narcotics."
Furthermore, investigations are underway to determine if the firearms recovered during the operation have any links to other criminal activities: "Additionally, the firearms recovered are being tested to see if they could be connected to other crimes."
