BAKER COUNTY, Ga. (WALB) — A statewide operation involving 66 Georgia sheriffs’ offices led to 35 arrests and 180 warrants, according to the Georgia Sheriffs’ Association.

Operation Watchful Eye XI took place from Oct. 26 to Nov. 2 and focused on checking whether registered sex offenders were complying with state registration requirements. Deputies conducted 8,451 residence verifications during the operation, according to the association.

The association said preliminary reports also showed that 521 registered sex offenders had absconded from their last known addresses. Sheriffs’ offices will work with other agencies to locate them, according to the release.

The annual operation began in 2015 as a coordinated statewide effort to verify addresses and check registration compliance.

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