'Operation Street Peace' leads to 500 arrests in St. Lucie County and 20 confiscated firearms

FORT PIERCE, Fla. - A summer-long crackdown on street violence in St. Lucie County has come to a close. The sheriff's office and Fort Pierce Police Department joined forces for "Operation Street Peace."

The agencies added 14 officers, in addition to normal patrols.

Officers say they arrested more than 500 people; almost 150 were for felonies. The agencies say they also confiscated more than $15,000 worth of drugs.

St. Lucie County Sheriff Ken Mascara says the most important part of the operation was getting guns off the street.

"We confiscated 20 firearms, which we know are no longer in our community that can play a role in violence in our community,” said sheriff Mascara.

Last year, the agencies confiscated twice as many firearms. They say they're hopeful that's a positive sign there are fewer guns in the community. The agencies say they also arrested documented gang members.

The crackdown started in late May and ended two weeks ago.