Memphis Safe Task Force Thursday’s Significant Arrests: 38 Arrests, 12 Illegal Guns Recovered

Memphis, TN – The Memphis Safe Task Force (MSTF) on Thursday executed 38 criminal arrests and recovered 12 illegal firearms.

Of note:

Andre Flowers, 31, was arrested on a warrant for aggravated assault at 4000 Lamar Avenue. Flowers failed to identify himself and resisted arrest which resulted in a brief scuffle. Arresting officers recovered a 9 mm pistol and transported Flowers to the hospital to be evaluated, which is when they were able to verify his identity and confirm he had a warrant.

Marland McDowell, 33, was arrested in the 2600 block of James Road, charged with attempted aggravated robbery. After McDowell attempted to rob a Family Dollar store with a firearm, he approached a vehicle in the parking lot and brandished a firearm. The vehicle’s occupants were National Guardsmen who detained McDowell until Memphis Police Department (MPD) officers arrested him.  

The firearm recovered was determined to be a nonfunctioning pellet gun.

Devon Washington, 28, was arrested for aggravated assault and unlawful possession of a weapon in the 2700 block of Burns Avenue. Agents with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and MPD officers responded to a call from a woman who said her boyfriend was pointing a firearm at her and threatening her, but when they arrived, he was already gone. Officers then went to Washington’s residence, located him in the front yard, and detained him. He was non-compliant during questioning by investigators. A search warrant executed at the residence resulted in the recovery of multiple calibers of ammunition, AR and pistol magazines, and two 9 mm handguns.

Ongoing manhunt: The MSTF is asking the public’s help and offering a reward of up to $30,000 for information leading to the capture of a man suspected of shooting a Memphis Police Department officer Feb. 27 during a traffic stop.

Danell Maxwell, 40, of Memphis, is wanted for attempted first-degree murder, aggravated assault, and employment of a firearm during the commission of a dangerous felony, per an arrest warrant issued Feb. 28. He was added to the Tennessee Most Wanted list the same day.

Maxwell is Black, stands 5 feet 10 inches and weighs approximately 180 pounds. He has brown eyes and black hair.  He was last seen wearing dark clothing and an orange and green reflective vest. He should be considered armed and dangerous.

Since the launch of the Memphis Safe Task Force initiative, officers have made 7,115 arrests, including 44 for homicide, 789 for controlled substances, 606 for firearms violations, and 93 for sex offenses. Of those arrested, 199 have been juveniles. The task force has seized 1,167 illegal firearms. These enforcement actions reflect a sustained commitment to reducing violent crime and removing dangerous weapons from Memphis neighborhoods.

Begun in September 2025, the MSTF is a multi-agency initiative to combat violent crime in Memphis. Composed of federal, state, and local law enforcement, as well as the Tennessee National Guard, the task force is focused on arresting violent criminals, clearing warrants, seizing firearms, and locating missing children. Since the operation began, the MSTF has located 149 missing children.

\This operation reflects the MSTF’s commitment to coordinated enforcement efforts and its mission to identify, apprehend, and hold accountable those who pose a threat to public safety.

Anyone with information about wanted fugitives is encouraged to submit it via the USMS Tips app.