SARASOTA, Fla. -- The Sarasota Police department has arrested 19 street-level drug dealers and are asking for the public's help finding four more.
"Operation Corner Stone" was a long-term undercover operation with the purpose of disrupting open-air drug markets within the City of Sarasota. The operation was conducted with undercover detectives making drug buys from suspected street-level dealers in areas that intelligence-led policing proved to be highest in drug crimes.
The 19 total individuals arrested have a combined total of 559 prior felony arrests and 174 prior felony convictions, according to Sarasota PD.
Sarasota Police Chief Bernadette DiPino announced the arrests during a press conference on Wednesday. The police chief also stated that they need the public's help apprehending four suspects still on the run.
Derrick Harner, Benjamin Kung, Darryll McNeal and Khalid Polk are wanted for sale of heroin, sale of cocaine within 1000' feet of a park and sale of a controlled substance within 1000' feet of a church and school, Sarasota PD wrote in a Facebook post.
WANTED - PLEASE RT: These are the 4 men we're still looking for in Operation Corner Stone. They're wanted for sale of heroin, sale of cocaine w/in 1000' ft of a park & sale of a controlled substance w/in 1000' ft of a church & school. Know where they are? Call us! pic.twitter.com/k1eQAmyvs1
— SarasotaPD (@sarasotapd) November 8, 2017
Anyone with information is asked to contact the Sarasota Police Department at 941-366-8000.
Mary Stringini is a digital reporter for ABC Action News. Follow her on Twitter @MaryWFTS.
