A citywide warrant roundup in Port Arthur netted eight parole violators and the search continues for six others, including a violent offender and a former police officer.

Those captured included: Kevin Paul Roy, Moses Benjamin Castillo, Austin Bernard Tisino, Kelvin Alexander Bryant, Donald Ray Jacobs, Kenneth Duane George, Carrie Rachelle Gregory and Timothy Neal Jean.

Police are asking the public’s help in locating Juan Manuel Torres, Brian Paul Hite, Rodney Dwayne Cleveland, Ervey Ortiz Chavez, Quydan Phuc Nguyen, and Javier Palacios.

Port Arthur Police Chief Tim Duriso is following up on his word to bring in federal partners and he did just that early Tuesday morning. PAPD, with the help of the U.S. Marshal’s Service and Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office, spent about eight hours serving warrants.

“Several (people) we missed by minutes,” PAPD Det. Mike Hebert said. “I’ve been asked several times why this roundup came today. Honestly, it’s because of the increase in violence in the city. That’s the one thing we’re trying to stop right now. And to have the feds, FBI, ATF, DEA, marshals in the city helping us.”

Hebert said there would be a real change here in the next few months and knows it’s been a difficult time for the citizens.

One of the men on the wanted list that officers wanted to spotlight is Javier Palacios. The U.S. Marshal’s have been tracking Palacios for the past few weeks and missed him Tuesday.

“Specifically, he’s one of the reasons for this roundup,” Hebert said. “We believe Javier is involved with the shooting we had at Jefferson (Drive) and 25^th Street. We think that by getting these individuals off the streets in Port Arthur we are hoping to see a decrease in our crime, especially violent crime.”

Palacios, at the time he was in prison, was a gang member. Hebert did not name the gang because he did not want to give the gang any added notoriety.

Once out of prison, Palacios headed back to Port Arthur. That’s when police noticed social media photos that “were not too complimentary of this police department.” In some of the photos, Palacios is shown holding weapons and reportedly told police he would always carry a pistol.

Besides Palacios, the search continues for Quydan “Dan” Phuc Nguyen, an ex-Port Arthur police officer.

Nguyen served a lengthy time as an officer and his firing was difficult on the others at the department.

“We all talk about how the streets pull people in and in this case that’s what happened,” Hebert said, adding that Nguyen was on parole on drug-related charges.

Duriso echoed Hebert’s comments when asked if the apprehension of the eight is considered a success.

In one way it is considered a success but on the other hand there are families affected negatively by the crimes that were committed.

If you have information about the whereabouts of these persons or information on any other crimes, call Port Arthur Police at 9083-8600 or Crime Stoppers of Southeast Texas at 409-833-TIPS (8477). You won’t be asked your name and you may be eligible for a cash reward. You can also make an anonymous tip to Crime Stoppers by downloading the P3 Tips app on your smartphone.