CITRUS COUNTY, Fla. — The Citrus County Sheriff's Office said it's been on offense against drug trafficking for the past two months through a covert operation they call "Operation Coin Toss."
- Operation led to 4 search warrants, 24 arrests
- Among arrested, 15 are prior convicted felons
- More Citrus County stories
"The drug dealers have won the toss and elected to receive, and receive they will," Sheriff Mike Prengergast said, extending the football metaphor in the operation's codename.
"Coin Toss" resulted in four search warrants and 24 arrests. Fifteen of those people were prior convicted felons.
"If you're a drug dealer — you've heard it from me before and I'll say it again — you sell drugs in this county I'm coming after you," Prendergast went on. "We get to pick the time and the place and we're going to serve the search warrant."
The Sheriff said two of the homes searched, one on Fern Place in Homosassa and another on Arter Street in Crystal River, were in deplorable condition and they're working with code enforcement to get them torn down.
"They're going to help initiate the process of eliminating these unsafe residences that have been a nuisance to their communities for a very long time,” he said.
Prendergast said it's the largest operation of its kind since he took over in 2017, and they're just getting started.
"We're getting ready to start the second quarter," he said, still using the sports metaphor. "In fact, it's already underway and we have a long way to go before we get to half time in 'Operation Coin Toss,'" he explained.
The Sheriff also said one of the people arrested through this operation has already agreed to serve eight years behind bars.