241 arrested in intensive drug sweep

Salt Lake police conducted an intensive drug sweep in the area in and around Pioneer Park last week, resulting in more than 200 arrests.

But the figure that stood out to law enforcers, just as much as the number of people arrested, was zero — the number of people arrested within the park itself.

"That's very unique in our history," said Salt Lake Police Chief Chris Burbank.

Undercover officers posing as both drug dealers and buyers were consistently told by real dealers during their operation: " 'Do not go to Pioneer Park. That's no longer the area to buy drugs. The cameras will watch you,' " said Salt Lake Police Lt. Mike Ross, who headed up last week's sweep.

"We could not buy one bit of dope out of Pioneer Park during those four days," he said.

Tony Caputo, owner of the popular Caputo's restaurant across from the park on 300 West and 300 South, said the park had been a problem since he opened for business 11 years ago. But ever since the new surveillance cameras were installed about a month ago, "we don't see the activity we used to," he said. "I'm thrilled to death with this effort the city is continuing."

From March 10 through Friday, police saturated Pioneer Park and the surrounding area until 2 a.m. in an effort to crack down on drugs. Of the 241 arrests resulting from Operation Street Sweep, 147 were for felonies, Ross said, mostly for buying and selling narcotics. Some of those arrested had been booked in the past for drug dealing near the park.

About 20 people arrested were turned over to immigration officials, and about half of those for aggravated re-entry into the country, Burbank said.

Although the park was seemingly clean of drugs last week, that did not mean the entire area was drug-free. A large number of arrests were made on 200 South, particularly in the area between Rio Grande Street and 600 West, according to police statistics.

"Two-hundred (arrests) is far too many," Burbank said.

The chief noted that drugs are a supply and demand venture, and the demand in that area is very high. People from all walks of life know that's the area to score drugs and travel there for that purpose, he said.

The goal of law enforcers is to make drug dealers and sellers go away by eliminating the level of comfort they've had in the past from selling drugs at the park, he said.

The park's new cameras have worked as an excellent deterrent thus far, Burbank said. Though he noted the only citations or arrests that were a direct result of using the cameras were some people spotted drinking alcohol in the park.

The success of the operation wouldn't have been possible without law enforcers and community groups working together, he said.

To continue to be successful in the future, police say there is a need for more drug treatment programs and more jail space.

"We've been arresting people in this area for a very long time. It hasn't solved the problem," Ross said.

E-MAIL: preavy@desnews.com