Investigators make cocaine-trafficking arrest near Sarasota park

A police raid on an Eighth Avenue home a week ago resulted in a felony drug-trafficking arrest and the seizure of cocaine and about $12,000 in small bills.

Sarasota Police, in a news release about the Jan. 16 arrest, said SWAT and other detectives acted on a CrimeStoppers tip in serving a search warrant in the 2100 block of Eighth Avenue, which is between Lime Avenue and U.S. 301.

Image courtesy of Sarasota Police Department

Lazaro Armando Rodriguez Gomez, 65, was charged with trafficking in cocaine, more than 400 grams and misdemeanor possession of drug paraphernalia. He was sentenced in 2005 to six months in the Sarasota County Jail on a conviction of cocaine possession with intent to sell, court records show.

In a probable-cause affidavit filed as part of the latest investigation, investigators noted that on Jan. 8, an undercover detective and a “confidential source,’’ purchased $900 of cocaine from the address at which the raid took place, less than 100 feet from Shenandoah Park at the corner of East Avenue.

Seized as part of the search-warrant operation:

• Several bags of cocaine in rock and powder form totalling 476 grams;
• Digital scales that tested positive for cocaine residue;
• Large amounts of cash in small bills;
• Drug paraphernalia.

Court records show Rodriguez entered a not-guilty plea earlier this week. His bond was set at $30,000.

This case remains an active and ongoing investigation.  Anyone with any information is asked to call the Sarasota Police Department Criminal Investigations Division at 941-263-6070 or you can remain anonymous and call Crime Stoppers of Sarasota County at 941-366-TIPS (8477).