BREVARD COUNTY, Fla. — Officers from multiple agencies descended on the city of Cocoa Thursday in an effort to make a serious dent in drug-related activities in the city.
By the end of “Operation Harvest Moon,” police made dozens of drug-related arrests, seized weapons, drugs and $10,000 in cash.
Caches of heroin, crack cocaine and marijuana were confiscated during the sweep,
Cocoa Police Chief Mike Cantaloupe said he wanted to send a message to drug sellers that there will be a zero tolerance policy for illegal drugs in the city.
“If we have to arrest them over and over again, we’ll continue to do it,” he said. “And diligently go after them until they get to the point they score jail time.”
Josephine McDaniel, a lifetime Cocoa resident, said she would like to see police focus on the other side of the equation too: Rehabilitation.
“When you bring them out, you have to give them a job, give them some work,” she said. “Give them a reason to want to come out and stay out, and stay out of trouble.”
A full accounting of the number of people arrested in the operation and the charges against them was not immediately available.
One suspected arrested Wednesday night rammed a police vehicle as investigators tried to arrest him. Now, along with drug charges he is facing a charge of aggravated battery on a law enforcement officer.