9 ARRESTED IN EAST ENGLEWOOD STING

CHARLOTTE COUNTY SHERIFF’S ECONOMIC CRIMES UNIT DETECTIVES IN A JOINT OPERATION WITH CODE ENFORCEMENT OFFICIALS CONCLUDED A TWO-DAY STING OPERATION FRIDAY IN EAST ENGLEWOOD WITH NINE ARRESTS.  THE OPERATION WAS SET UP TO IDENTIFY UNLICENSED CONTRACTORS AND THOSE CONTRACTING TO WORK OUTSIDE THE SCOPE OF THEIR LICENSE.  BOTH THE SHERIFF’S OFFICE AND THE COUNTY RECEIVED NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS FROM LICENSED CONTRACTORS AND RESIDENTS REGARDING UNLICENSED CONTRACTORS PERFORMING CONSTRUCTION AND REPAIR WORK ON TRADES SUCH AS ROOFING, ELECTRICAL, PLUMBING, AND AIR CONDITIONING REPAIR.  A LIST OF SUSPECTED UNLICENSED CONTRACTORS WAS OBTAINED THROUGH RESEARCH OF ADVERTISEMENTS ON CRAIG’S LIST AND LOCATED ON BULLETIN BOARDS.  THREE OF THE MEN ARRESTED WERE FROM NORTH PORT, WHILE THERE WAS ONE EACH FROM PLACIDA, ROTONDA WEST, BRADENTON, PORT CHARLOTTE, SOUTH VENICE, AND ENGLEWOOD.  ALL WERE GIVEN A NOTICE TO APPEAR IN COURT FOR CONTRACTING WITHOUT A LICENSE.