Drugs Found At Sarasota Home, 3 People Charged: Police

SARASOTA, FL — Drugs were found at a Sarasota home Wednesday morning, leading to the arrest of three men, each facing numerous charges.

At the home in the 1300 block of 15th Street, 96.1 grams of crack cocaine, 465.1 grams of marijuana and $2,645 were found, Sarasota police said.

This is the second time a search warrant was executed at the home in recent months, police added.

On April 26, 377 grams of cocaine, 31 grams of marijuana, six oxycodone pills, synthetic cannabinoids and two illegal guns were found at the home.

• Related Story: Illegal Drugs, Gun Seized From Sarasota Home; 2 Charged: Police

Both search warrants were obtained by the Sarasota Police Department after complaints from residents in the area and numerous undercover drug buys over several weeks, police said.

In Wednesday’s arrest, Rodney L. Austin (42), Jason L. Austin, Jr. (26) and Rashad L. Fields (30), all from Sarasota, were all charged with trafficking in cocaine (28 to 200 grams), possession of structure for trafficking in controlled substances, possession of a controlled substance with intent to sell within 1,000 feet of a park and tampering with evidence.

Rodney L. Austin was also charged with resisting law enforcement without violence and Jason L. Austin, Jr. was charged with violation of probation.

All three men were arrested and taken to the Sarasota County Jail. The investigation is ongoing and anyone with information is asked to call SPD’s Criminal Investigations Division at 941-263-6070.