JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Jacksonville Sheriff Mike Williams said the streets of Duval County are safer after a complex, nine-month investigation dubbed "Operation Eastbound and Down" uncovered two drug rings and identified 16 suspects who are accused of distributing cocaine all over Jacksonville.
"We know that the drug trade fuels violence every day," said Williams. "These two organizations were responsible for bringing potentially 100 kilos or more of cocaine into this city a year. That's a lot of drugs, a lot of money, and a lot of crime surrounding its distribution."
So far, 12 of the 16 suspects have been arrested and charged. Williams said police are actively searching for them now.
In addition, one of the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office's own was also arrested in connection with the case. Officer Betty Pearson started her career as a corrections officer 15 years ago and has been a police officer for the past eight. Action News confirmed Wednesday that Officer Pearson and her son, Antoine Pearson Jr., were both arrested in the past two weeks.
Pearson Jr. is one of the suspects named in Operation Eastbound and Down, as is his father Antoine Pearson Sr., and his uncle Gregory Pearson.
JSO Undersheriff Pat Ivey said Officer Pearson was extremely calm when she was placed behind bars Wednesday. Ivey said Officer Pearson got word that her son was wanted last month and attempted to help him escape.
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"There was conversation between her and her son as to how to flee," said Ivey.
Ivey said Officer Pearson told her son what cars police were looking for and offered to pick up her son when he told her he was in hiding, but Ivey said Officer Pearson's efforts didn't work. According to Pearson Jr.'s arrest report, he jumped a fence and ran when police attempted to take him into custody at a home on the Westside on August 22. He was later spotted on Wilson Boulevard, where police said he fought to get away.
Pearson's neighbors told Action News they are surprised by her arrest and said she always made them feel safer.
"This is something shocking to me if this really happened," said one neighbor, who asked not to be identified. "She seemed to have been, you know, a typical mother."
Betty Pearson is still employed by JSO, but Ivey said her gun was taken away two weeks ago and she was placed on desk duty as the investigation unfolded. Police are continuing to investigate to see if she had knowledge of the drug operation and said more charges could be filed, and more suspects could be identified, in the coming weeks.
Officer Pearson bonded out of jail late Wednesday night, while Antoine Pearson Jr. and Antoine Pearson Sr. were still in jail as of late Thursday evening.
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