Florida Corrections Crackdown Nets 28 Probation Violators

A surprise round of contact between a strike force of law enforcement agencies in nine counties and hundreds of probationers resulted in 28 arrests, the Florida Department of Corrections announced Tuesday.

Arrests and the closure of drug manufacturing labs were made in Brevard, Lake, Marion, Martin, St. Lucie, and Seminole counties during the 14th such sweep since the Community Justice Coalition was created in 2007.

These searches are an important way for our departments probation staff to partner with local law enforcement and help keep illegal weapons and drugs off the streets, Department of Corrections Secretary Ken Tucker stated in a release. These offenders know they are supposed to follow the rules, and when they dont they will get caught. For those who are following the rules, they should not worry.

In Brevard County, one team discovered an offender had been severely burned while cooking methamphetamine and had refused to go to the hospital.

Seminole County saw the most arrests: 15.

Agencies in Orange, Osceola and Polk counties also participated.

Overall, the teams of probation and law enforcement officers scheduled contacts with over 420 offenders, targeting gang members and individuals with a history of robbery, sexual battery, drug trafficking, aggravated battery and homicide.