Daytona Beach, FL – 23 people are arrested by the Volusia County Sheriff’s Office in a crime suppression operation focused on high-crime areas.
That operation – which took place Thursday afternoon – covered the northeast part of the county and involved the police departments of Daytona Beach, Holly Hill and Ormond Beach.
VCSO spokesman Gary Davidson says bath salts, Dilaudid, marijuana and crack cocaine were confiscated in the operation, as well as a drug ledger and a stolen dirt bike.
“Crime analysts and investigative leads were used to identify the target areas,” Davidson added. “Narcotics units assisted in the operation and made a number of arrests after observing drug transactions.”
12 of the arrests were on felony charges, with 10 other being for misdemeanors. There was also a civil arrest, 34 traffic citations and 9 criminal citations.
Among the arrested was a 44-year-old man who fled from a traffic stop on International Speedway Boulevard in Daytona Beach, according to VCSO reports.
“He caught the attention of a law enforcement officer who noticed that the driver had a suspended license,” Davidson said. “When the officer stopped the car and asked to see the driver’s license, the suspect sped off with a 5-year-old child in the passenger seat.”
Air One – the Volusia County Sheriff’s Office helicopter – followed that vehicle as it sped off and the driver was taken into custody soon after abandoning that vehicle in a grassy lot near Rosewood Street.
The driver – whose name wasn’t released by VCSO – was charged with driving with a suspended license, fleeing or attempting to elude a law enforcement officer and child neglect.
Another man arrested during the operation was charged with possession of marijuana with intent to distribute and child abuse. VCSO says he had 120 grams of marijuana, 4 phones and a drug ledger in the vehicle along with a child. His identity also wasn’t released.
More operations like this are planned in the future, according to Davidson.
Copyright 2015 Southern Stone Communications.