MCSO targets vendors without permits, 11 illegals arrested
August 1st, 2008 @ 6:02am
by Sandra Haros/KTAR

About 30 sheriff's deputies took to the streets of Maryvale last night, looking for street food vendors operating without permits.

Sheriff Joe Arpaio said the foods these people sell - corn, mangoes and snow cones - could be contaminated with food-borne illnesses.

"This is serious violation because of the contamination. We just don't want people eating and buying this food. Would you want your kids to buy the food if they're walking by the park? I wouldn't want to buy it. I get sick sometimes when I go to a regular restaurant," said Arpaio.

He said county inspectors asked the MCSO to help with the investigation "because they were afraid to go into the neighborhoods."

Arpaio said some would call it another one of his crime suppression operations. "It's not a suppression operation. But if you want to call it that, maybe it's a food suppression operation."

He said this was not an illegal immigration sweep, but he noted that all 11 vendors arrested are illegal immigrants. Arpaio said they've all been jailed.

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