CRACK SWEEP ENDS IN 480 ARRESTS

TAMPA - Residents are praised for calling in with concerns and tips on
drug dealing. "The citizens calling us does make a difference, " a
sheriff's lietenant said.

Hundreds of people connected with the crack-cocaine trade were
arrested across the county during a four-month sweep that concluded
Friday, the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office announced.

The arrests of suspected crack-cocaine sellers and buyers totaled 480
people, said Sheriff Cal Henderson, whose office worked with the Tampa
and Plant City police departments. More than 4,500 grams of crack
cocaine were confiscated, along with 23 weapons and $70,000 in cash.

The operation began after the Tampa Police Department recognized that
crack dealers in the Grant Park area, just north of Interstate 4 and
west of U.S. 301, would cross the county line once the city targeted
them. Tampa police sought the assistance of the sheriff's office, and
the operation expanded to include Plant City police.

``It's more efficient, more manpower,'' said Buz Sawyer, assistant
police chief in Tampa. ``It's better to work as a task force.''

Tampa police didn't work just the areas bordering the city and county,
Sawyer said. They worked crack-cocaine cases in West Tampa, too. Plant
City police targeted the neighborhoods of Maryland Heights and Madison
Park, said Chief Bill McDaniel.

More than 100 officers worked on Operation Crack Out, said Lt. Paul
Davis of the sheriff's office Organized Crime Bureau.

Other targeted areas included Apollo Beach, Palm River and Town 'N
Country.

More than 150 suspects were arrested in three days, Davis said.

The operation began May 22. Many of the investigations started after
residents called with concerns about crack dealing, Davis said.

``The citizens calling us does make a difference,'' Davis said. ``A lot
of this direction came from them.''

Not all the arrests were completed without incident. On Wednesday, the
arrest of two suspects in Palm River led to a scuffle in which one
suspect used a handsaw to cut a sheriff's undercover detective on the
arm. The detective is in good condition, said Debbie Carter, the
sheriff's office spokeswoman.

Henderson, Davis and others said crack cocaine remains a big business
and that people from all walks of life are attracted to the drug.

For sellers, it is easy money, and for the user, it is a quick high,
said sheriff's Cpl. Leon Paige, who estimated an ounce of crack cocaine
sells for $650 to $850.

``If we had included other drugs [in the operation], we would have had
more than 1,000 arrests,'' Paige said.