Drug Crackdown: 13 Arrested In Tarpon Springs

TARPON SPRINGS, FL — The Tarpon Springs Police Department has announced 13 arrests following a joint operation between its officers and the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office’s Countywide Narcotics Task Force. The operation was staged over the past six months to crack down on illegal drug activity within the city limits.

According to Tarpon Springs Police, law enforcement officers began conducting investigation-related arrests on April 27. “At the present time, 13 suspects have been arrested and several more suspects are outstanding and being sought.”

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Police say the investigation “revealed that the majority of the undercover deals had a nexus to the Sunbay Motel, located at 57 W. Tarpon Ave.” In an email to media, police said approximately 30 percent of the undercover drug deals completed during the operation took place on the motel’s property with some of the suspects staying at the motel.

“Other narcotics transactions, although originated at the motel, would take place at various locations within the city, due in part to increased law enforcement presence and efforts in the area of the motel, as noted by the suspects' statements during the undercover operation,” the email said.

Those arrested as part of the operation so far are:

Burthland Forde, 18

• 2 counts of Sale of Crack Cocaine
• 2 counts of Possession of Crack Cocaine

Frederick Smith, 57

• 1 count of Sale of Crack Cocaine
• 1 count of Possession of Crack Cocaine

Damon Mathis, 32

• 3 counts of Sale of Crack Cocaine
• 3 counts of Possession of Crack Cocaine

Prince Smith, 27

• 1 count Sale of Marijuana
• 1 count Possession of Marijuana

Donnell Engram, 27

• 1 count of Sale of Crack Cocaine
• 1 count of Possession of Crack Cocaine

Juvenile male, 17

• 1 count of Sale of Crack Cocaine
• 1 count of Possession of Crack Cocaine

Keistey Crenshaw, 63

• 2 counts of Sale of Crack Cocaine
• 2 counts of Possession of Crack Cocaine

Todd Mitchell, 24

• 2 counts of Sale of Cocaine
• 2 counts of Possession of Cocaine

Anthoine Blanch, 27

• 1 count of Sale of Crack Cocaine
• 1 count of Possession of Crack Cocaine

Adrianna Lindsay, 18

• 2 counts of Sale of Crack Cocaine
• 2 counts of Possession of Crack Cocaine

Andre McCants, 46

• 1 count of Sale of Crack Cocaine
• 1 count of Possession of Crack Cocaine

Stephen Whalen, 27

• 1 count of Sale of Oxycodone
• 1 count of Possession of Oxycodone
• 1 count of Sale of Counterfeit Drug

Ruben Brooks, 56

• 1 count of Trafficking in Hydromorphone
• 1 count of Sale of Counterfeit Drug

“The Tarpon Springs Police Department will continue its efforts to combat the sale of drugs within the city and will continue to partner with the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office in this effort,” the agency’s email added.

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