Orlando police conducted what was described as a "zero-tolerance" operation at a downtown parking garage to combat violence after nightclubs close. Orange County deputy sheriffs zoned in on an area near Pine Hills and Silver Star roads in response to tips. In addition to the arrests, at least five guns and more than a pound of marijuana were seized.The Orlando operation spanned more than three hours at the parking garage at 53 W. Central Boulevard."Usually, when the clubs let out we have problems in the garage," Orlando Ppolice Sgt. Barbara Jones said. Fights and a kidnapping have been reported recently in the area targeted early Thursday.
Lt. Sue Brown said 32 people were arrested, including eight on felony charges. Three handguns were recovered, as was marijuana, some Ecstasy pills and cocaine.
"We don't want drugs down here. We do not want guns down here. We don't want fights," Brown said. "We're not going to tolerate this. Every once in a while we're going to do this sort of thing."In the Pine Hills area, Orange County deputy sheriffs focused on the parking lot of a drugstore on Silver Star Road and arrested four men in three separate cases. Arrested were Rodney Conrad Alexander, Gordon Nielsen, Karif Walker and Maurice Antonio Wright.
"We have a systemic drug problem in Orange County, particularly within this Silver Star corridor," Cpl. John Parks said. "Where there's drugs, there's violence." He said authorities seized two handguns, which he said were stolen and likely used during a robbery, and more than a pound of marijuana.
Two suspects, both convicted felons, were being held without bail at the Orange County jail on concealed-weapon and other charges.
In Osceola, authorities arrested 29 people with active felony warrants. Drug paraphernalia and one assault weapon also were recovered
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