Trap: How 1985’s Operation Flagship inspire M. Night Shyamalan’s new film

His colleague Bob Leschorn, the chief deputy of enforcement in the US Marshals, was posing as the CEO of the fictional US cable TV network – Flagship International Sports Television.

“We had 119 extremely lucky individuals, who, by chance, were all wanted on criminal warrants,” Leschorn recalled with a smile.

But instead of heading to the game, he said, “they won a trip to the DC jail”.

The agents used reverse psychology to help coax as many of the criminals to the event as possible.

The winners were told over the phone that if they didn’t redeem their tickets and bring their ID, the prize would be given to someone else.

“And that really [made them say], ‘wait a minute, you’re not going to give my Redskin tickets away, I’ll be there’,” Leschorn explained.

With the stage set, the US Marshals ensured everything surrounding the fake TV station looked visually authentic.

Marshals were dressed in tuxedos and told to smile politely at the criminals they usually chase. Several of the female officers were even enlisted to be cheerleaders.

When the fugitives arrived, the cheerleaders would be physically affectionate with them, putting their arms around them and so on. In reality, they were patting them down to make sure they weren’t carrying weapons.

Not that there was much risk of that, noted Howard Safir, associate director of operations at the US Marshals, who was posing as marketing expert for the day.

“Sting operations are a safe way to arrest fugitives,” he pointed out. “They usually will not come with weapons, their minds are diverted, they’re in a festive mood.”