Crime & Safety

'Operation Safe Families' Nets 43 Domestic Violence Arrests in Sarasota County

The following is a press release from the Sarasota County Sheriff's Office: 


The Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office participated in Operation Safe Families, a statewide initiative by The Florida Sheriffs Task Force to safeguard citizens, and children in particular, from domestic violence.

The operation, which ran from October 13 to November 9, targeted individuals with outstanding warrants for domestic violence and writs of bodily attachment for non-support, which are used to bring in individuals who have failed to pay child support.

In Sarasota County, the operation resulted in 43 arrests for domestic violence, two arrests for violating a domestic violence injunction, two children were taken into protective custody, and 11 Writs of Bodily Attachment were served for nonpayment of child support. Twenty-three additional charges were filed for other warrants or crimes.

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“There is always a better choice than violence,” said Sheriff Tom Knight. “We are committed to helping citizens feel safe and provide access to the protective resources they need – whether the violence is between spouses, a parent and child or siblings - and reporting these crimes is the first step toward ending this cycle of violence.”

Statewide, 33 sheriff’s offices participated in this operation, making a total of 2,581 probable cause arrests for Domestic Violence, another 424 warrant arrests for Domestic Violence, and took 101 children into protective custody.

Find out what's happening in Sarasotawith free, real-time updates from Patch.

The Florida Sheriffs Task Force is a combined effort of the Florida sheriffs to perform proactive operations that deter criminal activity and maintain the quality of life that Floridians expect.


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