Accused Cocaine Dealer Busted Near Sarasota Church

SARASOTA, FL – An accused cocaine dealer is under arrest following a drug sting Sunday, Jan. 7, by the Sarasota Police Department.

After receiving a number of reports about drug deals occurring in the area of 23rd Street and Leon Avenue about 1,000 feet from a church and a community park, officers staked out the location. At about 11:15 p.m., officers approached Irvin Brown, 30, of Sarasota for violating the city’s open container law. Brown reportedly began to resist arrest and officers placed him in custody.

During a search of Brown, officers discovered 37 pieces of crack cocaine in Brown's left pocket. He was charged with felony cocaine possession with intent to sell within 1,000 of a church, resisting a law enforcement officer without violence, possession of drug paraphernalia and violating the open container law.

Brown was previously arrested by Sarasota police during the Sarasota and Manatee counties Operation SRQ Cartel II roundup in 2014, a multi-jurisdictional effort to combat illegal drug sales. He was found guilty of trafficking in cocaine and was released from prison in June.

Photo via Sarasota Police Department