DEPUTIES DESCEND TO SWEEP STREETS

A Roundup Targets A List Of 66 In Hopes Of Snuffing Crime Here.

LEALMAN- Sheriff's cruisers were lined up like airplanes waiting to
take off at a busy airport.

As one would take off, another one, two or three cruisers would pull
into the parking lot at Lealman Intermediate School. The passengers
were not happy travelers off to have a fun-filled holiday. They were
alleged drug dealers stopping briefly at the school parking lot for
processing before being whisked off to the Pinellas County Jail.

They were picked up Thursday night in a sweep designed to net 66
offenders. The sweep itself was part of a larger effort to quell
crime in Lealman. The Lealman effort is the third this year for
Pinellas County sheriff's deputies. They worked the Ridgecrest and
High Point areas for 30 days each before moving in mid September to
the area of Lealman bounded by 38th and 70th avenues N, 49th Street
and the interstate.

Ridgecrest, High Point and Lealman were targeted because they had
become "hot spots" for crime, said Pinellas County sheriff's
spokeswoman Marianne Pasha.

Hot spots are identified by analyzing crime data and listening to
community policing and patrol deputies who know the area. The spike
of offenses in those areas was enough to prompt deputies to put
together the larger effort.

"Rather than do one aspect of law enforcement, this is more
comprehensive," Pasha said. The concept is to take deputies from all
departments and "take care of some of the individuals that are
causing the problems."

In Lealman, deputies began with increased traffic and DUI
enforcement. They also helped get about 35 homeless people off the
streets by finding them places to stay or other help. While that was
going on, undercover deputies were concentrating on drug,
prostitution and other vice crimes.

When deputies had identified enough suspects, they set up the sweep,
which began about 6 p.m. Thursday and ended early Friday. They
wanted to catch those involved in drug sales at the street level,
either as a seller or as one who sets up the deals. Men and women in
their 20s to 50s were on the list. About 90 percent of the drug
offenses involved crack cocaine. Others involved Xanax, oxycodone
and marijuana.

Some of those targeted also were allegedly involved in other crimes,
such as prostitution. Four of the 66 were in jail, and deputies
caught 27 of the remaining 62. They also picked up seven people not
on the list. Deputies spent the rest of the weekend trying to round
up others, and warrants will be issued for those not found.

When finished, deputies expect to have made more than 300 arrests
for offenses including DUI, prostitution, drug dealing, open
container violations, underage alcohol sales, traffic infractions
and active warrants.

When those accused of being dealers were picked up Thursday,
deputies brought them to the school parking lot at 4900 28th St. N.
Authorities chose the school because its parking lot was big enough
for staging the 30 or so deputies who participated. It's also hidden
from the street.

When those picked up arrived at the school, they were patted down,
photographed and interviewed to see whether anyone wanted to help
with further investigations.

"It's an intelligence-gathering time," Lt. Dale Jones said. Jones is
in charge of Lealman patrol units.

The Sheriff's Office has targeted Lealman crime since at least 1998,
when the office opened a community policing headquarters on 28th
Street N. In 2000, the office reacted to the area's notoriety for
the frequency of domestic violence incidents with the creation of a
Domestic Violence Intervention Program.

Four years later, Sheriff Jim Coats, who was then chief deputy,
spoke to Lealman Heights residents, who complained about prostitutes
and drug dealers. Less than three hours later, deputies swept into
the area and arrested 18 men and women on various charges including
prostitution, aggravated assault, felony battery and grand theft.

Deputies also boarded up three properties with repeated code
violations. Deputies thought they were being used as drug holes or
prostitution houses. In less than a week, 32 people had been picked
up and charged with such crimes as drug possession, prostitution and assault.

A month later, deputies ran an undercover sting in Lealman directed
at picking up men who solicited prostitutes. Ten men were arrested
and charged with drug possession and other crimes, as well as
soliciting a prostitute.

Two years later, in 2006, more than 40 deputies arrested 32 people
in a one-night sweep of street-level drug dealers.

"It's always been a busy area for us," Pasha said.

Ray Neri, president of the Lealman Community Association, watched
part of Thursday's proceedings. Deputies routinely attend LCA
meetings to hear of problems in the area and to keep in touch with residents.

"I'm so glad we've got the sheriff's department. These guys are
dedicated. They got in there and are cleaning up our streets," Neri
said. "They made a commitment a couple of years ago to do this, and
it's just great to know they're going to continue with their commitment."

Pasha said plans are in place to keep crime rates down.