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The Sarasota County Sheriff's Office arrested 66 people on 105 new charges during Operation Southern Watch, "a targeted effort to prevent crime and enhance safety in south Sarasota County," the office has announced in a news release. The agency used its Intelligence to Action (I2A) model of intelligence-led policing to identify areas of Venice, Nokomis, Englewood, North Port and Warm Mineral Springs "that are susceptible to crime," the release explains. From June 13 to June 22, deputies increased their law enforcement presence to address trends, patterns and hot spots, and they worked to locate wanted persons in addition to conducting highway interdiction and DUI enforcement, the release continues. The arrest history of the suspects showed a combined 451 prior felony charges and 590 prior misdemeanor charges, the release points out. "Ten of the people arrested have served prison time, and five are labeled pro- lific offenders," it notes. "These operations are created through data analysis and intelligence, as well as the coop- eration of community members who work with the Sheriff's Office regarding pervasive problems," said Sheriff Tom Knight in the release. "We are committed to improving the quality of life that residents expect and to send a message to criminals who become a public nuisance that they're not welcome in these neighborhoods." OPERATION SOUTHERN WATCH RESULTS IN 66 ARRESTS ON 105 CHARGES INVOLVING INCIDENTS IN SOUTH SARASOTA COUNTY The Sarasota County Sheriff's Office has arrested a 22-year-old man in connection with a shooting incident on Bee Ridge Road earlier this month, the office has announced. When deputies arrived at the Walgreens park- ing lot on Bee Ridge just after midnight June 9, they learned that Asa Masotti of 6920 Clark Road, Sarasota, had asked a man he did not know if the man wanted to buy a gun, a news release says. Masotti reportedly took a silver Smith & Wesson 9mm handgun out of a lock- box in the trunk of his vehicle, the release continues. Then when he racked the slide, the release adds, the gun went off, firing a round into the victim's right thigh. Witnesses say Masotti initially gave the gun to a friend who arrived after the shooting and told him to get rid of it, but, instead, the friend assisted the victim, ensured the clerk called 911 and remained on scene, the release says. The Sheriff's Office determined the handgun had not been stolen. The victim, 27-year-old Benjamin Smith of Sarasota, suffered a shattered femur and had to undergo surgery at Blake Medical Center in Bradenton, the release notes. Masotti, who has five prior arrests for Burglary, Aggravated Battery and Domestic Violence, was taken into custody on the night of June 19 and charged with Improper Exhibition of a Dangerous Weapon. 22-YEAR-OLD ARRESTED FOR SHOOTING INCIDENT ON BEE RIDGE Asa Masotti/Contributed photo Sarasota News Leader June 27, 2014 Page 80