GAINESVILLE - Seventy-two illegal drug and gang suspects were the target of arrest warrants Thursday morning in a round-up by multi agency narcotics squad officers assisted by Hall Sheriff's deputies and Gainesville Police.
On Athens Street a mobile precinct waited for officers to bring in the suspects who were placed in a sheriff's van and transported to county jail.
Police and deputies began their arrests on warrants at six a.m. based on drug buys by undercover MANS agents that began three months ago according to Sheriff Steve Cronic.
Cronic said a main goal is to make the streets safer this summer.
"With the kids out of school, this will make our streets safer and take 72 criminals that include gang members and dope dealers off the street," the Sheriff said.
Gainesville Police Chief Brian Kelly and the Sheriff said 45 to 50 officers were involved in the undercover investigation and the resulting drug and gang suspect round-up.
By mid-morning 22 people whose names were on the criminal warrants were still at large the round-up was expected to continue through the day.
According to Chief Kelly such operations are also aimed at making the dope dealers nervous.
"Whenever these people are committing criminal offenses they never know who they are in front of, so I think that keeps the offender on edge," the Chief said.
Thursday
October 17th, 2024
6:07PM
