Opiate Crackdown Nets 28 Arrests In Sarasota County

SARASOTA, FL — The Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office has announced the arrest of 28 people on a total of 95 charges following a month-long crackdown on opiate use, abuse and addiction that wrapped up recently. Operation Spring Smack Down was staged from March 1-31, according to the agency.

“This epidemic is not to be taken lightly and something the public should be fully aware of and educated on,” said Sheriff Tom Knight in announcing the arrests. “While we aren’t seeing nearly the same numbers as other parts of the country, 32 overdoses in only 31 days is startling to say the least.”

Knight said the criminal history of some of those arrested during the crackdown is rather extensive. Combined, the 28 people have a total of 332 prior felony charges and 267 prior misdemeanors.

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“The public should know that operations like these are conducted as part of a multi-faceted approach to combating this nationwide problem,” Knight said. “This isn’t something we can arrest our way out of however, through enforcement, prevention, education and treatment, we can work together as a community, to make an impact. The public should stay vigilant and understand the signs and symptoms of opiate use, abuse and overdoses, so we can put an end to what’s killing people in our community every day.”

Since Jan. 1, the sheriff’s office has investigated 71 heroin-related overdoses that resulted in 14 deaths, the agency noted. In March alone, deputies were called out on 32 overdoses compared to 10 in the same month last year.

According to the sheriff’s office, those arrested during the 31-day operation were:

• Paul Mangual, DOB 06/22/79, of Bradenton is charged with Possession of Heroin, Tampering with Evidence and Possession of Narcotics Equipment. He was released March 10 on $3,500 bond.
• Justin Eastman, DOB 01/17/80, of Sarasota is charged with Possession of Xanax, Possession of Narcotic Equipment and Violation of Probation. He remains in custody without bond.
• Adrianna Watson, DOB 10/01/79, of North Port is charged with Possession of Heroin, Possession of Morphine Sulfate and Possession of Narcotic Equipment. She was released March 15 on $3,500 bond.
• Finesse Lagler, DOB 07/22/87, of Sarasota is charged with Possession of Hydromorphone, Possession of Narcotic Equipment, Tampering with Evidence, and Child Neglect without Great Bodily Harm. She was released March 21 on $28,500 bond.
• Michael Bodiker, DOB 09/11/81, of Sarasota is charged with Possession of a Controlled Substance without a Prescription and Possession of Narcotic Equipment. He remains in custody on $25,500 bond.
• Tasha Gruerio, DOB 10/07/86, of Sarasota is charged with Possession of a Controlled Substance without a Prescription and Driving While License Suspended. She was released March 21 on $1,620 bond.
• Travis Gadd, DOB 12/14/84, of Sarasota is charged with Possession of Heroin, Possession of Methamphetamine, Possession of Marijuana Under 20 Grams, Possession of a Harmful Drug without a Prescription and Possession of Narcotic Equipment. He was released April 2 on $4,120 bond.
• Mark Suiter, DOB 04/14/73, Bradenton is charged with Driving While License Suspended, Fleeing to Elude, Possession of Methamphetamine and Possession of Narcotic Equipment. He remains in custody on $22,000 bond.
• Kyler Blessitt, DOB 01/06/96, of Sarasota is charged with Possession of Narcotic Equipment. He was released on his own recognizance on March 30.
• Hayden Litz, DOB 03/06/94, of Parrish is charged with Fleeing to Elude, Possession of Methamphetamine, Possession of Cocaine, Possession of Clonazepam, Possession of Marijuana Under 20 Grams, Possession of Narcotic Equipment, Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon, Possession of Ammo by a Convicted Felon, Resisting without Violence, Reckless Driving while Fleeing Law Enforcement, and Violation of Probation. He remains in custody without bond.
• Jeffrey Blair, DOB 09/12/67, of Sarasota is charged with Unlawful Possession of Identification. He was released March 24 on $500 bond.
• Kirsten Davis, DOB 03/22/72, of Sarasota is charged with Possession of Hydromorphone and Possession of Narcotic Equipment. She was released March 25 on $2,000 bond.
• Matthew Carter, DOB 10/10/72, of Sarasota is charged with Possession of Narcotic Equipment. He remains in custody with a revoked bond from an arrest in February for Possession of Methamphetamine.
• Sheila Perry, DOB 12/18/81, of Sarasota is charged with two counts of Possession of Narcotic Equipment and Tampering with Evidence. She was released March 24 on $2,000 bond.
• Whittni Hostetler, DOB 12/15/94, of Sarasota is charged with Possession of Heroin and Driving While License Suspended. She remains in custody on $5,500 bond.
• James Lawson Jr., DOB 04/18/91, of Nokomis is charged with two counts of Sale of Cocaine and Possession of Crack Cocaine. He was released March 27 on $16,500 bond.
• Ashley Queen, DOB 08/13/86, of Venice is charged with three counts of Sale of Rock Cocaine, Sale of a Controlled Substance and Unlawful Use of Two-Way Communication Device to Facilitate a Felony. She was released March 28 on $31,500 bond.
• Joseph Guarnieri III, DOB 08/28/76, of Nokomis is charged with Sale of Adderall Within 1,000 Feet of a Convenience Store, Unlawful Use of Two-Way Communication Device to Facilitate a Felony and Violation of Probation. He remains in custody on $20,000 bond.
• Natasha Ekleberry, DOB 04/17/88, of Venice is charged with two counts of Principle to Sale of Methamphetamine Within 1,000 Feet of a Convenience Store, Principle to Sale of Methamphetamine and Unlawful Use of Two-Way Communication Device to Facilitate a Felony. She remains in custody on $49,000 bond.
• Mathew Huffman, DOB 05/29/89, of Venice is charged with two counts of Sale of Methamphetamine, Possession of Methamphetamine, Possession of Heroin with Intent to Sell, Possession of Narcotic Equipment, and Unlawful Use of Two-Way Communication Device to Facilitate a Felony. He remains in custody on $26,000 bond.
• Richard Pirro, DOB 09/07/88, of Venice is charged with three counts of Sale of Methamphetamine Within 1,000 Feet of a Convenience Store, Principle to Sale of Methamphetamine and Unlawful Use of Two-Way Communication Device to Facilitate a Felony. He remains in custody on $51,500 bond.
• Donald Dycus, DOB 04/13/50, of Sarasota is charged with two counts of Sale of Hydromorphone. He remains in custody on $30,000 bond.
• Joseph Taylor, DOB 05/20/84, of Englewood is charged with Sale of Hydromorphone Within 1,000 Feet of a Park. He remains in custody on $15,000 bond.
• Marlena Anthony, DOB 01/12/94, of North Port is charged with two counts of Sale of Methamphetamine and Unlawful Use of Two-Way Communication Device to Facilitate a Felony. She remains in custody on $115,000.
• Lindsay Wendell, DOB 11/13/89, of Sarasota is charged with Fleeing to Elude, Driving While License Suspended and Violation of Probation. She was released March 30 on $8,000 bond.
• Wayne Boron, DOB 08/18/90, of Venice is charged with Driving While License Suspended. He was released March 29 on $120 bond.
• Kenneth Atkins, DOB 04/02/82, of Sarasota is charged with Possession of Narcotic Equipment. He was released March 30 on $500 bond.
• Nathan Andrews, DOB 11/21/76, of Cape Coral is charged with four counts of Sale of Methamphetamine and Unlawful Use of a Two-Way Communication Device to Facilitate a Felony. He is currently in custody at the Charlotte County Jail awaiting transfer to Sarasota County.
• Katherine Doherty, DOB 10/21/89, of Venice is charged with two counts of Sale of Methamphetamine and Unlawful Use of a Two-Way Communication Device to Facilitate a Felony. She remains at large.
• Angela Gaudioso, DOB 07/19/90, of Englewood is charged with two counts of Sale of Controlled Substance Within 1,000 Feet of a Park and Unlawful Use of a Two-Way Communication Device to Facilitate a Felony. She remains at large.

Images courtesy of the Sarasota County Sheriff's Office