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The Kosciusko County Drug Task Force sent a message to drug dealers last night that selling illegal substances in their county will not be tolerated.
Undercover officers from the task force, along with officers from the Warsaw and Goshen police departments, responded to complaints of drug activity in Central Park by setting up a bust.
Officers surveyed the park, identifying persons using and/or selling drugs before approaching a man and purchasing crack cocaine.
The man who sold cocaine to the officers, Derek L. Gardner, 24, of 1202 Wooster Road, Winona Lake, was arrested on a charge of dealing cocaine in a public park, a Class A felony, and on an outstanding warrant for dealing cocaine, a Class B felony.
A Kosciusko County undercover officer said the drug task force team is just warming up. In a press release, the team stated that they have identified several other individuals as drug dealers but are waiting to make arrests until they have stronger cases.
The press release also assured area parents who have said "the park is not fun anymore" that they are working to make it a family place once again.
