Durham: 32 arrested, 17 guns seized in Operation Autumn Guardian, police say

Thirty-two people were arrested and 17 guns were seized during a three-day operation along the Fayetteville Street and North Miami Boulevard corridors in Durham, the Durham Police Department says.

The department's Organized Crime Division ran Operation Autumn Guardian with the FBI Safe Streets Task Force from Wednesday, Oct. 21, through Friday, Oct. 23, police said in a release issued Thursday, Oct. 30. Police said the operation was a response to an increase in criminal activity in the Fayetteville Street corridor, the 3400 block of Glasson Street, the 3600 block of Keystone Place and the North Miami Boulevard corridor.

What officers found

Officers made 105 vehicle stops and 32 arrests, according to the release. Police said they seized 17 firearms, one firearm conversion device known as a "switch," 533 grams of marijuana, 25 grams of crack cocaine, 1 gram of methamphetamine, less than a gram of fentanyl and $1,499 in cash.

Police said officers made traffic stops, did "knock and talks" to find wanted people and serve warrants, and walked foot patrols to talk with residents and encourage them to report crime.

The charges

Charges listed by police include carrying a concealed gun, possession of a firearm by a felon, possession of a stolen firearm, possession of a machine gun, possession of a weapon of mass destruction, and possession with intent to distribute fentanyl, cocaine and marijuana. Many of the charges were citations for carrying a concealed gun or for minor drug and traffic offenses. Everyone charged is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.

A juvenile was also arrested and charged. Police said they will not release any information that identifies the juvenile or the juvenile's charges.

What we don't know yet

Police have not said whether any of the arrests are connected to specific shootings or other open cases, or what kinds of crime had increased in the targeted areas.

Timeline

• Wednesday, Oct. 21, to Friday, Oct. 23, 2026: Durham police and the FBI Safe Streets Task Force run Operation Autumn Guardian (Durham Police Department).
• Thursday, Oct. 30, 2026: Durham police announce 32 arrests and 17 firearms seized (Durham Police Department).

What happens next

The cases will move through the Durham County courts. Anyone with information is asked to call Durham CrimeStoppers at 919-683-1200 or submit a tip at durhamcrimestopper.org. This story is not an official or emergency notice. If someone is in immediate danger, call 911.

Photos

Text-only. No official agency photo was available to us for this story.