More than 200 warrants recalled during Operation Safe Surrender
INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — People with outstanding warrants in Marion County will get one last chance to potentially resolve their cases without facing arrests.
Operation Safe Surrender is taking place at Messiah Missionary Baptist Church on East 38th Street.
The parking lot of the church was packed with cars for the program. Many people walking in said they didn’t know what to expect, Chris Goodlow was one of them.
“I was a little nervous about coming in, but I knew I didn’t have anything really really bad,” Goodlow said.
Goodlow said he heard about Operation Safe Surrender on the news. He said he couldn’t pass up the opportunity.
“I knew that I had a warrant for child support so I thought this would be the best time to come and get it taken care,” he said.
Goodlow said he feels a sense of relief having gone through the process.
He said it’s only open to people with warrants for a level six felony or misdemeanors in Marion County.
“They’re good people they get you right through it you go up and talk to some lawyers defenders and stuff and they get you right into the judge,” Goodlow said.
Cameras were not allowed inside of the church for privacy reasons.
Goodlow said different tables were set up inside with public safety officials.
“I did talk to one lady who was coming down from the court and she embraced me,” said Reverend Stephen J. Clay, Messiah Missionary Baptist Church. “She almost made me started crying because she was just that grateful to have it behind her.”
Clay is the senior pastor at the church.
He said people can safely surrender at the church without fear and anxiety of being arrested.
“This is why the church is intrical to this because it’s a safe haven,” he said. “Everybody doesn’t belong to the church but the church belongs to everybody.”
Clay said one of three things can happen when people surrender, people can have their warrants lifted, court dates rescheduled, or have the case resolved.
Operation Safe Surrender runs from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday.