39 Arrested in Sarasota Crime Crackdown

SARASOTA, FL — The Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office has announced the arrest of 39 people on a variety of criminal charges ranging from burglary to homicide. The arrests were part of “Operation ShortStop,” a 20-day “targeted effort to prevent crime and enhance community safety."

According to the sheriff’s office, the operation was designed to address criminal activity “and the perception of an environment conducive to criminal behavior within the general borders of Honore east to Beneva Road and between Webber and Proctor roads in Sarasota.”

The operation involved three phases that began with a “dramatic increase in law enforcement presence,” the sheriff’s office wrote in a media release. The operation was conducted between July 11-31 with its results announced Thursday, Aug. 11.

The 39 arrests included 43 felony and 22 misdemeanor charges, the sheriff’s office said. Those arrested had a combined 208 prior felony charges and 232 prior misdemeanors, the sheriff’s office said.

"This is part of our Intelligence to Action model of policing," said Sheriff Tom Knight in a statement. "By taking a proactive approach to reducing crime in targeted areas, we are letting criminals know their behavior isn't welcome in our community while at the same time assuring residents that their quality of life won't be affected by criminals who prey on their neighborhood."

Adults arrested during the sweep included:

• James E. Justice, 51, of Sarasota on grand theft auto charges
• Taylor Dallas, 33, of Sarasota on domestic battery charges
• Dalen Christopher Arnold, 27, of Sarasota on burglary of an unoccupied dwelling and grand theft motor vehicle charges
• Miranda R. Justice, 21, on battery charges
• Mary A. Webster, 63, of Sarasota on DUI charges
• Denise Kelly Williams, 36, of Sarasota for outstanding warrants for failure to appear on narcotic equipment possession and driving on a suspended license charges
• Christopher Severson, 32, of Sarasota on grand theft charges
• Jarreth Kendall Perkins, 21, on failure to appear charges and violation of probation
• Peter Gerard Lacey, 62, of Bradenton on violation of probation in relation to a DUI with property damage charges
• Kevin Dale Aschilman, 27, of Sarasota on grand theft charges
• Stephen J. Shepard, 29, no known address, on violation of probation related to a fraud charge
• Philip Alan Lagana, 39, no known address, on felony petty theft and driving on a suspended license (third offense)
• Tannis T. Phillips Jr., 29, of Sarasota on murder charges reference to the July 13 shooting death of Darryl Davis; a warrant had been issued for Phillips’ arrest
• Dahowd Issa Alyan, 20, of Sarasota on an outstanding burglary warrant
• Johnny Perez, 23, of Sarasota on violation of felony probation related to DUI and possession of marijuana and paraphernalia charges
• Michelle Charmaine Anania, 36, on violation of probation charges related to petty larcency
• Gina Marie Valdez, 25, of Sarasota on driving on a suspended license charges
• Corey D. Scogin, 29, of Sarasota on aggravated battery with a deadly weapon charges
• Tyler Shawn Benesh, 32, of Sarasota on violation of probation charges
• Marlano A. Tialolin, 40, of Sarasota on DUI charges
• Robert Nicholas, 22, of Sarasota on possession of narcotic equipment charges
• Beverly Janelli, 43, of Sarasota on DUI charges
• James Laurent, 50, of Sarasota on grand theft charges
• Howard Hambrook, 27, of Sarasota on aggravated domestic battery charges
• Heather Gebhard, 27, of Venice on DUI charges
• Neeley Leona Griesekreuser, 18, of Sarasota on failure to appear charges in relation to drug possession and no driver’s license
• Jeffrey Ray Mullis, 43, of Sarasota on driving on a suspended license, attaching a tag not assigned to a vehicle and operating an unregistered vehicle charges
• Jonathon Sanders, 31, of Sarasota on possession of a controlled substance, possession of narcotic equipment and operating a vehicle on a suspended license
• Aaron Lyle Mortensen, 40, of Sarasota on DUI charges
• Dawn M. Gibson, 43, of Sarasota on possession of narcotic equipment charges

Patch is not publishing the names of the juveniles arrested in the operation due to their ages.

Photo courtesy of the Sarasota County Sheriff's Office