Operation nets dozens of drug arrests in Polk County

An East Bartow neighborhood started the morning off with a boom on Thursday when members of Polk County's Special Operations threw an explosive device into a home on East Gibbons Street, and arrested the grandmother living there.

"To me, it sounded like a shell coming down," Haroni Mathis, a neighbor, told FOX 13.

It was not Ruby Cunningham's first drug arrest. Investigators say she has been selling drugs for 30 years and has been arrested two dozen times.

Detectives say her little grandson had to peer around piles of drugs and money that were blocking the television to watch cartoons.

"These are problem people," said Polk Sheriff Gardy Judd. "They are raising the next generation of people to think this is normal, this is OK."

Cunningham's arrest is part of "Operation City Sweep," a 10-month undercover investigation. In the first round up, 30 suspected drug dealers were arrested. Late Friday afternoon, detectives were looking for nine more.

Judd said many of the suspects are repeat offenders getting federal assistance, whick irks Judd.

"The hardworking taxpayers of this state are paying these people to stay home and sell drugs.  It makes me crazy outta my mind," he said.

According to the sheriff's office, the nine suspects still at large are:

- Jermaine Cunningham, 24.

- Melbra Brewer, 40.

- Jesse Gant, Jr., 35.

- Ola Mae Harris, 54.

- Anthony Hazelton, Jr., 26.

- Derrian Leon, 35.

- Kenthanie Little, 37.

- Cornelius Lott, 37.

- Tyrone White, 22.