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The Sarasota County Sheriff's Office made 77 arrests during Operation Impact, "a multi- agency effort to prevent crime and enhance community safety through an increased law enforcement presence in north Sarasota County," the office announced this week. From May 23 to June 1, the agency worked with the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE); Florida Highway Patrol; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF); and the Florida Department of Corrections Bureau of Probation and Parole "to eliminate the perception that the environ- ment [in that part of the county] is supportive of criminal behavior," a news release explains. "Several similar operations have been con- ducted since January 2012," it adds. "Using the Sheriff's Office's Intelligence to Action (I2A) model of intelligence led policing, the operation included a 'place-based' strat- egy to eliminate street crimes," the release notes, and it included highway interdiction efforts such as DUI and traffic enforcement. "The operation also addressed crime and noise complaints by residents and business owners and reinforced community partner- ships built through ongoing initiatives," the release says. In all, 77 people were arrested on 130 charges, "and the arrest history of many of the suspects is of great concern," the release points out. The 77 arrestees have a combined 569 prior felony charges and 693 prior misdemeanor charges, it says. "Only 14 of those suspects have ever been to prison," the release contin- ues. "Eight arrestees are prolific offenders," it adds. Personnel also conducted 60 probation checks and issued 68 criminal traffic citations and 948 civil traffic citations, the release notes. "We are committed to improving the quality of life that residents of north Sarasota County expect and will continue with this crime pre- vention strategy to eliminate anything that makes the area appear to be fertile for crime," said Sheriff Tom Knight in the release. OPERATION IMPACT FOCUSES ON COMMUNITY SAFETY On Friday, May 30, the Sarasota Police Department Narcotics Unit, with the assistance of the Street Crimes, Criminal Investigations and Patrol units, arrested 10 people while con- ducting Undercover Street Reverse Operation in Fredd Atkins Park in north Sarasota, the department has announced. The park is located at 2581 N. Washington Court. During the sting, a news release explains, undercover police officers posed as drug dealers and sold substances to "individu- als looking to purchase illegal narcotics in UNDERCOVER STREET REVERSE OPERATION RESULTS IN 10 ARRESTS the park," the release says. The buyers were arrested immediately, it points out. Another person, Charles C. Claridy, 39, a tran- sient, was arrested "as officers observed him selling marijuana" in another section of the park, the release continues. Three more suspects were transients, accord- ing to the reports, and a fifth person's address was listed as unknown. One 27-year-old man resides in Bradenton. A 28-year-old transient woman, Kimberly A. Collins, who was charged with Purchase of Sarasota News Leader June 6, 2014 Page 79