Sheriff's Deputies Tackle Spring Cleaning In East Hillsborough, Targeting Gangs

VALRICO, FL — Hillsborough County sheriff's deputies did some spring-cleaning last week, but their focus wasn't to get rid of clutter. The mission of the week-long operation was to take illegal guns and drugs off the streets of East Hillsborough County.

During the Hillsborough County schools' spring break, March 13 to 17, deputies conducted Operation Spring Cleaning in District II, which includes Thonotosassa, Seffner, Dover, Plant City and Valrico, arresting eight people including seven active gang members, and removing confiscating seven illegal firearms.

According to Hillsborough Sheriff Chad Chronister, the objective was to reduce crime in the district by focusing on juveniles and gang members who frequently commit crimes during spring break.

"My top priority as sheriff is always the safety and security of our community," Chronister said. "With the successful removal of these illegal firearms and drugs from our streets, we can all rest a little easier knowing that our neighborhoods are safer."

Those arrested include:

• Michael Davis, 24. Davis was wanted for violation of his probation for felonies including felon in possession of a firearm, possession of cocaine, possession of marijuana and fleeing to elude. He intentionally rammed his car into several Plant City police cars on March 14, said Chronister.
• Xavier Camacho, 22. Camacho was on probation for robbery and is a known Blood gang member. After obtaining probable cause, detectives conducted a search and confiscated a loaded Glock 19 handgun and more than $10,000 in cash. He was arrested for felon in possession of a firearm.
• Tony Henry, 18. Henry was on probation for aggravated assault and is an active member of the Rose Gang. Deputies confiscated a Ruger EC9, Taurus G2C 9 mm, ammunition and a drum magazine from Henry and charged him with violation of probation and felon in possession of a firearm, according to sheriff's reports.
• Keith Gardner, 26. Gardner is a known member of the 32nd Street gang and was found in possession of cannabis, carrying a concealed firearm and felon in possession of a firearm, the sheriff said.
• Eugene Cato, 20. Cato was with Gardner when he was arrested. Cato was charged with violating probation and carrying a concealed firearm.
• Joseph Valdes, 40. Valdes was charged with violation of probation, grand theft motor vehicle and possession of fentanyl.
• Efren Hernandez, 24. In a search of Hernandez' vehicle, deputies said they found a loaded Taurus 9 mm handgun that had been stolen out of Osceola County. He was charged with violation of probation and felon in possession of a firearm.
• Ricky Martinez, 19. Martinez, a known Dover Locos gang associate, was carrying a fully loaded Glock 19 firearm and was charged with carrying a concealed firearm.