15 Arrested In Sarasota Warrant Sweep

SARASOTA, FL — The Sarasota Police Department on Wednesday announced the arrest of 15 people on drug-related charges during a recent warrant sweep. The roundup was conducted in June with its results announced July 12. One man wanted by authorities in connection with the drug investigation remained at large, officials said.

The warrant roundup, police wrote in a Wednesday email to media, focused on the sale of illegal drugs, including fentanyl and carfentanil. Most of those arrested are residents of Sarasota. All told, the 15 people arrested face 18 charges that include sale of cocaine, possession of LSD and sale of spice, among others. The 15 people arrested so far have a combined 269 prior felony charges between them and 317 prior misdemeanors, police said.

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The man police are still looking for is Khalid Polk, 25. He is wanted on an outstanding warrant for the sale of fentanyl.

“We’re working hard to keep the City of Sarasota a safe place to live, work and play,” Capt. Corinne Stannish said in announcing the arrests. “We will continue our efforts to end drug dealing in the City of Sarasota. We’re not going to give up.”

The people arrested so far are:

Mario Powers, 29, of Sarasota

• Sale of Marijuana within 1000 feet of a School (felony)
• Sale of Cocaine within 1000 feet of a Park (felony)

Earl Taylor, 61, of Sarasota

• Sale of Cocaine within 1000 feet of Public Housing (2 counts) (felony)

Jackie Martel, 49, of Sarasota

• Sale of Cocaine within 1000 feet of Public Housing (2 counts) (felony)

George Whitfield, 54, of Sarasota

• Sale of Cocaine within 1000 feet of Public Housing (felony)

Tereza Jones, 19, of Sarasota

• Sale of Cocaine within 1000 feet of a Church (felony)

Jason Pierre, 22, of Sarasota

• Sale of Spice within 1000 feet of a School (felony)

James Brooks, 35, of Sarasota

• Sale of Spice within 1000 feet of a School (felony)

Cassandra True, 40, of Sarasota

• Sale of Spice within 1000 feet of a School (felony)

David Mason, 27, of Sarasota

• Possession of LSD (felony)

James Baker, 62, of Sarasota

• Sale of Cocaine within 1000 feet of a School (felony)

Ricky Cokley, 53, of Sarasota

• Sale of Cocaine within 1000 feet of a Park (felony)

Johnnie Weeks, 29, Sarasota

• Sale of Cocaine within 1000 feet of a Church (felony)
• Sale of Marijuana within 1000 feet of a Church (felony)

Wilbert Polk, 24, of Arcadia

• Sale of Cocaine within 1000 feet of a Church (felony)

Elvis Shine, 36, of Sarasota

• Sale of Cocaine (felony)
• Possession of a Controlled Substance (felony)

Michel Woodall, 36, of Sarasota

• Driving with a License Suspended (misdemeanor)

Anyone with information on Khalid Polk’s whereabouts is asked to call the police department at 941-954-7009.

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Booking photos courtesy of the Sarasota Police Department