Sarasota Drug Crackdown Nets 11 Arrests

SARASOTA, FL — An undercover operation by the Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office meant to to crack down on illegal drug sales has resulted in 11 arrests. Deputies say one person has eluded capture.

The operation that led to the arrests began in June with a focus on cracking down on distribution and sales of heroin, fentanyl, carfentanil, cocaine, methamphetamine and other drugs, the agency wrote in an email to media. During the operation, “undercover buys” were made by detectives to establish grounds for charges. (For more local news from Florida, click here to sign up for real-time news alerts and newsletters from Sarasota Patch, and click here to find your local Florida Patch. If you have an iPhone, click here to get the free Patch iPhone app.)

The sheriff’s office released the details of the operation on Monday, Oct. 9. While 11 arrests have been made so far, one person remains wanted. Deputies say Christopher McCausland, 32, is wanted on two counts of sale of methamphetamine.

“Including McCausland, those arrested have more than 200 prior felony charges and more than 60 felony convictions,” the email noted.

Those arrested and the charges they face are:

Haylee Bourdier, 21, of Venice

• Charges: two counts of sale of cocaine

Mario Charles, 26, of Sarasota

• Charges: two counts of sale of heroin, sale of rock cocaine, sale of heroin within 1,000 feet of a place of worship

Jamarcus Charles, 22, Nokomis

• Charges: three counts of sale of cocaine within 1,000 feet of a convenience business, unlawful use of a two-way communication device

Michael Evans, 43, North Port

• Charges: three counts of sale of morphine

Lucas Grant, 27, North Port

• Charges; Contempt of court related to possession of narcotic equipment charges

Shelia Lampe, 22, Venice

• Charges: sale of methamphetamine

James Lawson Jr., 26, Nokomis

• Charges: principle to the sale of cocaine

Todd Reaves, 31, Sarasota

• Charges: four counts of sale of carfentanil within 1,000 feet of a business

Omar Simmons, 35, North Port

• Charges: possession of rock cocaine and possession of narcotic equipment

Norbert Simon, 50, Englewood

• Charges: outstanding violation of probation warrant from Charlotte County

Kevin Whitehead, 26, Sarasota

• Charges: sale of fentanyl

“By dealing these substances, criminals are essentially dealing death sentences,” said Sheriff Tom Knight said in a statement. “Through our pragmatic approach of combatting this epidemic, initiatives like these are all about enforcement. We identify the dealers, infiltrate their networks and as a result, take deadly drugs off the streets of Sarasota County.”

The Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office has investigated more than 400 opioid and heroin-related overdoses since 2015. That number includes 32 opioid-related deaths.

Main image via Shutterstock/graphic of booking photos courtesy of the Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office