NAPLES, Fla. -- Residents in Naples surprised and concerned, after a major drug investigation leads to three arrests. Two of the arrests happened within a thousand feet of Anthony Park.
Naples Police say undercover officers purchased crack cocaine from 50-year-old Toni James and 40-year-old Tara Perry Harris on 13th Street North back in April and June. When police showed up Friday to execute a warrant at Harris' home, they arrested her and 50-year-old James Washington, who they say had crack in his pocket hidden in a gum rapper.
The arrest reports say James and Harris were selling cocaine just 600 feet from Anthony Park, a formerly rough area that has a playground, basketball and tennis court.
Antonio Dumornay of the River Park Neighborhood Association says the drug dealing and violence that used to plague this part of Naples has died down. While he's not surprised at the arrest of the three suspects, he says they're the exception.
"It doesn't represent the neighborhood because we've all seen bad apples. A lot of bad apples fall from the tree, but the tree's still going to stand."
Tara Harris and Toni James face multiple charges of selling within a thousand feet od a park, James Washington faces one count of possession.
As part of their outreach, Naples police tell Fox 4 they have two officers specifically assigned to the River Park neighborhood that residents are familiar with.
