Sarasota Police arrest man, seize more than 100 grams of cocaine
Francesco Abbruzzino, The Uncensored Report, LLC
SPDNews
Lashay A. Smith, 58, of Sarasota, has been arrested and is facing multiple charges following the execution of a narcotics search warrant in the 3100 block of Old Bradenton Road. Detectives received an anonymous tip that led them to the home.
On Sept. 2, 2026, the Sarasota Police officers, detectives and other department personnel executed a narcotics search warrant at 5 a.m. at 3120 Old Bradenton Road, Sarasota. Smith was the only one in the home at the time of the search warrant.
During the search, detectives found the following inside a bedroom:
Crack cocaine weighing 45.5 grams and powder cocaine weighing 56.1 grams,
10 morphine sulfate pills, an opioid pain medication and Schedule II controlled substance,
18 buprenorphine-naloxone tablets, a prescription combination medication and Schedule III controlled substance,
$793 in U.S. currency.
Throughout the home, officers also found a variety of clear sandwich and Ziploc-style bags, scales with cocaine residue and razors with cocaine residue. Detectives say these items are commonly associated with the portioning, packaging and sale of cocaine.
Smith was arrested and taken to the Sarasota County Jail. He was later released on a $26,000 bond.
Smith is facing charges of trafficking in cocaine, a felony; two counts of possession of a controlled substance, felonies; keeping or maintaining a dwelling for using a controlled substance, a misdemeanor; and possession of drug paraphernalia, a misdemeanor.
Smith has 14 prior felony convictions, including one weapon offense, one burglary, three drug-sale offenses, five drug-possession offenses, and four convictions for driving with a suspended license with knowledge, classified as a Habitual Traffic Offender in Florida.
Do you have information that could help Sarasota Police detectives? If you know something about this case or other suspected narcotics activity in the City of Sarasota, detectives want to hear from you. Call the Sarasota Police Department Strategic Investigations Unit at 941-263-6050 or submit an anonymous tip to Crime Stoppers at 941-366-TIPS (8477).
