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Suspected drug dealers arrested during Operation West Side Sleigh Ride

OCOEE, Fla. — Agents with several local law enforcement agencies began arresting suspected street-level drug dealers in Ocoee in what was dubbed Operation West Side Sleigh Ride.

Seven of the 19 suspects have been arrested, agents said, and more are expected.

Channel 9's Renee Stoll was there as the first suspects were taken to jail.

"Why were you selling to undercover cops?" Stoll asked one of the suspects.

"I don't sell drugs," the man replied.

Agents from the Orange County Sheriff’s Office and Ocoee and Winter Garden police worked undercover for three months buying from street-level drug dealers.

The charges range from sale and delivery of cocaine, oxycodone, ecstasy, hydromorphone, methamphetamine and cannabis and the illegal alteration of a firearm.

Police said one of the suspects, Marcus Conyers, has been a known dealer for the last decade. They said he was even caught with 31 grams of cocaine in his possession when he was arrested.

Another suspect, 51-year-old William Burlingham, was selling meth, authorities said. Police said they even found a sawed-off shotgun in Burlingham’s possession when they arrested him.

“The crime that’s related to drugs is amazing and it’s just good to get them off the street for a while,” said Ocoee Police Sgt. Brian Satterlee.

Thursday night, there were fewer than five warrants to still be served.