John and Judy Stafford were riding their new motorcycle on U.S. 51 in Dyer County in 2016 when a Chevy Blazer ran them over, killing Judy and paralyzing John, who now lives in a nursing home. 

John Perkins, 39, was identified as the driver of the SUV that struck the retired couple. He was later found to have had methamphetamines in his system and was convicted for driving under the influence and vehicular homicide. 

After serving 25 months, he was released on parole but later violated his parole when he tested positive for methamphetamines. He was arrested in his home in Tiptonville in Lake County and is now being held at the Bledsoe County Correctional Complex.

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Perkins is one of 43 arrested as part of an Operation River Run, a joint collaboration between the United States Marshals Office and 24 other federal, state, local and tribal partners in West Tennessee. The initiative was announced in February, and participating partners gave an update Friday, May 20, at City Hall in Memphis.

Partners include the United States Attorney’s Office, Drug Enforcement Administration, Shelby County Sheriff’s Office, Memphis Police Department, Tipton County Sheriff’s Office and Dyer County Sheriff’s Office. 

U.S. Marshal Tyreece Miller of the Western District of Tennessee said he recently spoke over the phone with the Staffords’ son, who is a middle school principal in Dyersburg. 

“He visits his dad often and gets him out of the nursing home to watch his grandkids play ball,” Miller said. “The thing he told me that struck me is this. I told him about us arresting John Perkins. He said, ‘I hope he gets the help he needs, and I hope he sees my mother in heaven.’”

Miller added: “Through Operation River Run, the U.S. Marshal Service and our partners made a concerted effort to address criminal activity in rural West Tennessee.

“Fugitives may believe they can hide in these smaller communities, but let me tell you, they are sadly mistaken. And any time we can call upon our partners to help us do what we need to do and remind (fugitives) that we’re out here, we’re watching.” 

Other successful cases Miller highlighted include Demarion Flagg, who was found with an assault rifle with a high-capacity drum magazine; and Jayden, Shaun and Janie Crawford, who were found with fentanyl, marijuana, firearms and $2,445 in cash. 

The central focus of the local initiative is on arresting fugitives with violent backgrounds in rural areas of West Tennessee that border the Mississippi River, including Dyer, Lake, Lauderdale, Obion and Tipton counties.

Individuals so far were arrested on a variety of criminal charges, including possession of drugs, homicide, illegal possession of firearms by prohibited persons, violation of federal supervised release, state probation and parole violations, burglary, sex crimes and aggravated assault.

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The local operation is part of a larger initiative spearheaded by United States Marshals (USMS) Task Forces, which is partnering with federal, state, local and tribal partners nationwide to enforce the “rule of law through impactful violent crime reduction strategies.”

“Fugitives may believe they can hide in these smaller communities, but let me tell you, they are sadly mistaken.”

Tyreece Miller
U.S. Marshal, Western District of Tennessee

Last year, the USMS Task Forces apprehended about 6,000 violent fugitives wanted for homicide and removed approximately 6,900 firearms from the streets.

In West Tennessee, partner agencies cleared 44 warrants and seized seven firearms, 20 rounds of ammunition, $8,945 in cash and .75 kilograms of narcotics.

Of the 43 arrestees, 25 of them were subject to current court supervision, meaning they committed violations of a court supervision while on probation, parole or federal supervised release.

Three arrestees were gang members, 21 were on state probation, three were on state parole, one was on federal supervised release and 18 were arrested on new charges. 

Task force members from MPD and SCSO assisted with arrests in Lauderdale and Tipton counties, and the Jackson Police Department provided task force officers to U.S. Marshals in Dyer, Lake and Obion counties. 

U.S. Attorney Joseph C. Murphy Jr. said operations like River Run are important because often fugitives are on the move and it’s important to have all agencies come together to keep their communities safer.

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“There’s a lot of talk about how do we deal with violent crime. And let me say this, we’re not trying to change the weather,” he said. “We’re not trying to stop tornadoes or eliminate hurricanes. We’re talking about dealing with people, and what you see here is all these agencies working together.”

He said the initiative will be a continued effort between the partner agencies. 

Laura Carney, agent for the Drug Enforcement Administration in Memphis and Jackson, said these kinds of operations require joint effort and teamwork. 

“DEA is proud to be part of this partnership with the U.S. Attorney’s Office,” Carney said. “And with all of our partners, DEA is committed with our law enforcement partners to dismantle criminal organizations responsible for devastating our communities with drug crime and violence.”

Bobby Straughter, assistant commissioner of prisons with the Tennessee Department of Corrections, said TDOC is committed to enhancing public safety by holding offenders accountable. 

“Operation River Run is an example of the effort that is required to make Tennessee a safe place to live and to raise a family,” he said. “Communities don’t happen just in a vacuum. It requires all of us working together. And that is why the partnership with the U.S. Marshal Service and the local and state law enforcement partners is so important.”