(11/02/06) MANHATTAN - The U.S. Marshal Service arrested 10,773 fugitives in a nationwide police operation that included the arrest of Westchester's Most Wanted man.

From October 22 to 28, police forces from 24 states participated in an operation that aimed to apprehend the worst of the worst. Operation Falcon III, which stands for Federal and Local Cops Organized Nationally, targeted sex offenders, gang members and violent felons. Police captured 19 of the fugitives in Westchester. According to Westchester County's Commissioner of Probation Rocco Pozzi, six of those 19 were in serious violation of their parole.

Also included in those local arrests was Michael Elias, of Mount Vernon. Elias was number one on Westchester County's Most Wanted list and now faces a felony contempt charge.