St. Lucie County Sheriff’s Office summer task force concludes 74-day operation with more than 11,000 citizen contacts and more than 300 arrests
From June 3 – Aug. 15, the Fort Pierce Police Department and St. Lucie County Sheriff’s Office conducted a joint task force while school was not in session.
The purpose of the task force was to detect and deter crime, make arrests when appropriate and get firearms and drugs off the streets while enhancing relationships with community members.
“This year’s summer enforcement efforts were another huge success due to the cooperation between the citizens of Fort Pierce, the Fort Pierce Police Department, the St. Lucie County Sheriff’s Office, our Federal agencies. As criminal justice partners, we came together for the common goal of making our streets safer for our children to play, and for the pleasure of our residents, business owners, and visitors to enjoy the splendor of our beautiful city. The success of these efforts is a testament to what can be accomplished when our community works together,” said Fort Pierce Police Chief Diane Hobley-Burney.
“For the past decade, we have partnered with the Fort Pierce Police Department to target the most violent crime areas of Fort Pierce during the summer,” said St. Lucie County Sheriff Ken J. Mascara. “Historically this is a time when we see increased gun violence and victimization of the most precious asset our community has, our children.
“Again this year, the summer operation paid huge dividends in making arrests and removing guns from the hands of criminals, as well as fostering great community relations through the over 11,000 citizen contacts. These operations make our community safer,” the Sheriff said.
Four Sheriff’s deputies and four Fort Pierce police officers were assigned to the operation. They patrolled together, generally from late afternoon through the early morning hours, adjusting their schedule as necessary. These officers and deputies supplemented the regular, ongoing patrol operations of the St. Lucie County Sheriff’s Office and Fort Pierce Police Department.
Chief Hobley-Burney and Sheriff Mascara emphasized that it is important for the community to know that the Fort Pierce Police Department, the St. Lucie County Sheriff’s Office and their Federal partners will continue to put forth the greatest of efforts in the community to address the violent crime. It is equally important for citizens to work with law enforcement and report illegal activity as they play a vital role in taking back their neighborhoods and making Fort Pierce a safer place to live, work, and play.
Here are the statistics from the operation:
Total citizen contacts: 11,058
Arrests: 323
Firearms recovered: 13
Total Traffic Stops: 2,258
Verbal Warnings: 2,089
Written Warnings: 152
Citations: 144
Notable arrests:
– 449 N. 12 Street on June 5 at 5:39 p.m.: Christopher Columban Joseph arrested for weapons violation as he was attempting to hide a firearm in a bathroom with a deputy sheriff present.
– 6651 Darter Court on June 17 at 9:50 p.m.: Deputies/officers observed a suspicious vehicle occupied by Louis Mangulas that was backed into the business. Upon approach of the vehicle they observed a prescription bottle with the label missing and several pills inside. Upon searching the vehicle they located 15 Oxycodone pills (7.5 grams) and 19 Tramadol (3.5 grams). He was arrested for trafficking in controlled substances.
– 700 Block of Atlantic Avenue on June 18 at 12:27 a.m.: Louis Renaud ran from a traffic stop and pursing deputies/officers observed him throw a handgun to the ground.
– 1655 North 29th Street on July 6 at 6:49 p.m.: During a traffic stop a firearm was observed in the vehicle and Adrian Anthony Mitchell was arrested for a weapons violation.
– 805 North 32rd Street on July 8 at 10:06 p.m.: Deputies/officers responded to a complaint after a shooting that had just occurred and the deputies/officers located three suspects, Julius Belle, Lennox Baker and Joshulette Hunt in the area and the three were arrested on weapons violations.
– 2300 Block of Avenue I: Task force members conducted a bicycle stop on July 13 at 9:15 p.m. on James Evans for no working lights. He had a handgun in his waistband and was arrested on weapon violations and drug possession.
– 1823 Sunrise Boulevard, Apartment #11 on July 21 at 5:24 p.m.: Units responded to a complaint of the smell of marijuana coming from the apartment. Upon arrival officers/deputies approached the apartment, Antonio Papa George came out the back door and upon seeing the deputy he ran back in the house. They pursued him back into the house as the odor of marijuana was coming from him. In plain view in the house they located drugs, he was arrested on drug possession. He is a documented gang member
– 2372 North U.S. 1 on July 22 at 7:41 p.m.: Deputies/officers went to this address looking for a warrant suspect, Augustin Alcee. Upon site of the deputies he fled on foot and threw down a handgun. Upon apprehension he also had in his possession 23 bags of marijuana. He was arrested on warrants, weapons violations and drug possession charges.
– 2200 Block of Avenue D on July 29 at 12:02 a.m.: Officers/deputies conducted a traffic stop on Marvin Ingram. They could smell a strong odor of marijuana coming from the vehicle. The deputies/officers located a handgun in his possession. He was arrested on weapons violation.
– 439 North 13th Street on July 30 at 1:30 a.m.: Officers/deputies stopped out with a suspicious occupied vehicle in the parking lot. They could smell a strong odor of burnt marijuana. Upon searching the vehicle, they located two handguns inside the vehicle along with 3.5 grams of crack cocaine inside the vehicle. Patrick Lundy was arrested on weapons violation and drug charges. Ja’ Kaevious Smith was charged also with a weapons violation.
– Orange Avenue and Jenkins Road on August 1 at 1:46 a.m.: Deputies/officers conducted a traffic stop on Richard Falcon Jr. Deputies/officers could smell the odor of marijuana from inside the vehicle as well as Law Enforcement K9 alerted on the vehicle for presence of drugs. Upon searching the vehicle a bottle of 49 morphine pills (7 grams) and 8 grams of marijuana were discovered. He was arrested on trafficking in narcotics.
– South 10th Street and Citrus Avenue on August 5 at 12:12 a.m.: Kory Freeman was stopped for a bicycle infraction and jumped off the bicycle and fled on foot. Deputies/officers pursued and saw him throw and item as he ran. The item later was recovered which was a firearm. He was charged with a weapons violation.
– 300 Block North 13th Street on August 10 at 11:19 p.m.: Officers/deputies conducted a traffic stop on Brandon Lee Smith and smelt a strong odor of fresh marijuana coming from the vehicle. Search revealed 77 grams of marijuana inside the vehicle. A firearm was located inside the glovebox. He was charged with possession of drugs.
