Police in Sarasota, Florida, came up with an easy way to shut down a drug house. It probably won’t stop the traffic completely but it should make a huge dent in business for one unlicensed pharmacist.
Drug house drama
There will still be conversations like “Uh, hey dude, there’s a big SWAT van in front of your house.” Responded to with “It’s cool, come on in. They just parked a decoy.” Depending on when the visitor last dosed, they may take the dealer at his word for it, or maybe try another vendor. Then again, they’re already here and he has the dope… but there’s cops outside…
Him or her might still go in but possibly won’t. It’s like those surgeon general warnings they put on cigarette packs.
Sarasota PD had a major feeling of Deja Vu when they executed two back to back narcotics-related search warrants at the same home.
They didn’t want to keep going back and forth so they parked in front of the house and “set up shop in the neighborhood.” The 1300-block of 15th street has been buzzing with conversation since last week.
The first time they rang the doorbell at that address, back in April, they hauled several people out of the house on firearm and illegal narcotics charges.
It was an instant replay the second time around. Both times, the Sarasota Police Department were well equipped with warrants.
Numerous undercover buys
They had been getting complaints from neighbors so they made “numerous undercover drug buys” at the house “over several weeks.”
Last Wednesday, local news reports note on June 15, three people were arrested.
This latest time around, the charges are for things like “trafficking of controlled substances, trafficking in cocaine, tampering with evidence and probation violations.”
Police also report that two of the individuals arrested inside the house, Rodney L. Austin and Jason L. Austin Jr, “had been arrested during the execution of the previous warrant.”
Their associate, 30-year-old Rashad L. Fields of Sarasota was also dragged away in handcuffs. “Officers discovered 96.1 grams of Crack Cocaine, 65.1 grams of Marijuana and $2,645 in U.S. currency.”
Just to send a little message to the local drug community, “officers have parked a large police vehicle in front of the home.” They aren’t even inconvenienced by it. “The vehicle was loaned to Sarasota Police by the Bradenton Police Department.” It will sit there making the house stick out like a sore thumb until the operation closes and moves. Then, they’ll move the truck.
