Police make drug arrests in City Hall parking lot

The Sarasota Police Department made six arrests in the City Hall parking lot last week as part of an effort to crack down on the sale and possession of designer drugs.

On Friday, the department’s Narcotics and Street Crimes units conducted an undercover bust operation in the southwest parking lot of City Hall, located at 1565 First St. As a result of the operation, James Valentin was arrested and charged with sale of a designer drug and possession of drug paraphernalia, according to a SPD release.

Five other individuals — Ryan Jarecki, Anthony Dilorenzo, Jack Cook Jr., Donald Gould and John Whitney — were charged with possession of a designer drug.

The arrests came in the wake of recent county and city ordinances banning the sale of designer drugs, including “spice,” or synthetic marijuana. SPD Lt. Pat Ledwith warned of the dangers of designer drugs in the release.

“These substances are not safe alternatives to illicit drugs,” Ledwith said. “Many times, they can cause serious harm and can even cause death.”

Contact David Conway at [email protected].