Issue link: https://newsleader.uberflip.com/i/285258
The Sarasota County Sheriff's Office has charged a seventh person in connection with the organized retail crime ring arrested last week during Operation Recommit, the office has announced. Donnalee Ballard is charged with Dealing in Stolen Property and Petit Theft. Ballard previously was arrested in December 2013 for two counts of Child Neglect when deputies found her toddlers "living in horrific conditions and in the company of a wanted sex offender," a news release says. In addition to Ballard's two charges in Operation Recommit, TAC Unit deputies filed an additional 23 charges against the other six defendants on March 25, the release notes, including Grand Theft, Felony Petit Theft, Dealing in Stolen Property and Providing False Information to a Pawn Broker. Additional charges are forthcoming, the release adds. SEVENTH PERSON ARRESTED AS A RESULT OF OPERATION RECOMMIT Donnalee Ballard/Contributed photo The Sarasota Police Department issued 448 seat belt citations and 57 seat belt warnings and cited 82 motorists for driving with sus- pended licenses during the spring Click It or Ticket Campaign, the office has announced. Police officers joined law enforcement agen- cies from around the state in the initiative, conducted March 1-15, a news release notes. According to Click It or Ticket Florida, in the Sunshine State during 2010, 64 percent of the 21- to 24-year-olds killed in traffic crashes were not buckled up — the highest percent- age of all age groups, the release points out. Officers with the Sarasota Police Department also ticketed 47 motorists for having no insur- ance, issued 83 speeding citations and cited four motorists for child safety seat violations, the release says. "We want to bring these numbers down," said Capt. Patrick Robinson of the Bureau of Patrol Operations in the release. The Sarasota Police Department has cre- a t e d a p u b l i c s e r v i c e a n n o u n c e m e n t about seat belt use that can be viewed on its YouTube page. POLICE DEPARTMENT ISSUES 448 SEAT BELT VIOLATIONS Sarasota News Leader March 28, 2014 Page 84