Sarasota's 'Operation Rock Solid' Busts 36 Suspected Drug Dealers

SARASOTA, FL — A four-month police investigation dubbed "Operation Rock Solid" netted 36 suspected street-level drug dealers, according to the Sarasota Police Department. Sarasota police Chief Bernadette DiPino announced the arrests at a Tuesday afternoon news conference.

The name "Operation Rock Solid" was chosen because most of the narcotics seized during the investigation involved rock cocaine, which is commonly known as crack.

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“We are going to find you. We are going to arrest you. We are going to bring you to justice. We ask you to stop dealing drugs in our community,” DiPino said in a message to other dealers in her city. “If you’re a drug dealer, find another line of work. You’re not going to sell drugs in our community.”

Sarasota police said the cases were also “rock solid” from a prosecution perspective. Two additional people were still being sought as part of the operation, but police said they qualified for a Drug Market Intervention or DMI.

"Officers are continuing to look for the remaining two individuals who qualify for DMI. If they cannot be found, warrants for their arrest will be completed," Sarasota police said.

If offered, the program would allow both people to escape prosecution or to have their prosecutions deferred by successfully completing the program.

The operation took place between June 2018 and October 2018. In all, police said that 35 men and 3 women were identified as allegedly being part of Sarasota's drug trade.

The Sarasota Police Department Narcotics Unit and Street Crimes Unit launched the operation to disrupt open-air drug markets.

"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," police explained.

The 36 suspected drug dealers that are currently facing federal charges had a combined total of 619 prior felony charges and 252 prior felony convictions among the group. Two of those arrested had more than 20 prior felony convictions each.

Two firearms were also seized during "Operation Rock Solid."

Watch as Saasota Police Chief Bernadette DiPino discusses the investigation:

Photo and video courtesy Sarasota Police Department