Six men with active family court warrants were arrested during a recent Family Court Warrant Sweep, the Erie County Sheriff’s Office and county comptroller announced Friday.

Some of the men arrested failed to pay child support.

“The message we’re trying to get out is if you owe this money, make efforts to settle it or you’ll be arrested,” said Erie County Sheriff Tim Howard.

The sweep, which the sheriff’s office is obligated to conduct twice a year, coincides with Domestic Violence Month. Howard said many cases in which child support goes unpaid are related to domestic violence situations.

“The individuals involved would know I can no longer contact the former spouse or parent of my child to get this money,” he said.

The comptroller’s office is required to conduct a compliance audit to ensure the sheriff’s office completes the sweeps.

“It is unconscionable for someone to bring a child into this world and not honor those obligations,” added Erie County Comptroller Stefan Mychajliw.

Parents who don’t get the financial child support they are owed by a former partner often have to turn to government assistance, he said.

“They should be getting it from the deadbeat parent and not the county of Erie,” Mychajliw said. “But that’s how taxpayers are on the hook. Whether it’s childcare subsidies, food stamps, a monthly welfare stipend, things of that nature, the taxpayer foots the bill for.”

Any parents not getting the child support they are due should contact the sheriff’s office, Howard said.