The property was also found to be littered with garbage, fertilizer, containers and human waste; all of which were adjacent to Elk Creek. by Megan Butler & Erin Christy, KTUL Staff. These cases resulted from a joint investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration, Okaloosa County Sheriffs Office, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Santa Rosa County Sheriffs Office, Florida Highway Patrol, Florida Department of Law Enforcement, Fort Walton Beach Police Department, Crestview Police Department, Gulf Breeze Police Department, and Walton County Sheriffs Office. Homelessness and Baker Act mental health issues increase. The street value of the marijuana located is estimated to be to $50,000,000. OCSO deputies A Baker woman who intentionally drove westbound in the eastbound lanes on Highway 98 near Hurlburt Field is charged with aggravated battery. "[In] 2017, we had 125 overdoses reported to our agency alone. In addition to the cocaine, law enforcement seized four firearms, more than $22,000 in U.S. currency, 50 grams of crack cocaine, and around 2,500 grams of marijuana. Calling it the largest seizure of heroin and fentanyl in Okaloosa County's history, the Okaloosa County Sheriff's Office today outlined a ten month undercover investigation dubbed "Operation PayDirt" that led to fifteen arrests on charges ranging from trafficking in heroin to sale of heroin. The task force executed a search warrant at 28-year-old Maurice Simmonss apartment on Pelham Road around 3:32 p.m., according to an arrest report by the Okaloosa County Sheriffs Office. We are honored to serve and protect. USAFLN.Press.Office@usdoj.gov "If you want to move to Oklahoma to set up a grow operation in Oklahoma, that's fine, let's do it, but let's do it properly," Sheriff Turner said. United States Attorneys Office 1998 - 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. | All Rights Reserved. During a consensual search of her vehicle, Sgt Milonas An 18-year old Fort Walton Beach resident was taken into custody last night at a high school basketball game after deputies learned he had a concealed firearm at the game. Fifteen people are now behind bars, but officials warn they will continue to come after anyone else who may be involved. Two of the suspects were arrested in Haskell County. Calling it the largest seizure of heroin and fentanyl in Okaloosa Countys history, the Okaloosa County Sheriffs Office today outlined a ten month undercover investigation dubbed Operation PayDirt that led to fifteen arrests on charges ranging from trafficking in heroin to sale of heroin. "It's just everywhere. OCSO said the house was associated with drug overdoses and distribution. If you have concerns about a possible illegal marijuana operation in your community, contact the Douglas Interagency Narcotics Team at (541) 440-4474. The Okaloosa County Sheriff's Office has charged a Fort Walton Beach man with sexually assaulting a 12-year old girl in Destin. TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) Two men suspected of buying and selling "large quantities" of fentanyl were arrested after authorities in Clay County uncovered enough of the lethal drug to kill more than. Deputies located multiple vehicles, tents and two RVs concealed under green houses and in the timber. Deputies and OBN agents investigated Zhang and Zheng and found a registered medical marijuana grow operation at the property, and they believe they, and others in the group, were selling it illegally elsewhere. As a result of the investigation, the following defendants were convicted and have been sentenced to the following in federal court: Meantime 33-year-old Brittney Robertson and 37-year-old Michael Spears of 1481 Pine Street are both charged with child neglect and possession of drug paraphernalia. Simmons was arrested on multiple felonies including trafficking in fentanyl, trafficking in heroin, possession of marijuana with intent to distribute, possession of cocaine, and possession of drug paraphernalia. We've got to start holding people accountable for the lives that are being wasted and destroyed here. Other major players in the drug trafficking operation are: 45-year old Anthony Porter of Mary Esther, 29-year old Gill McGee of Crestview, 40-year old Keithen Brown of Crestview, 33-year old Aaron Johnson of Fort Walton Beach, and 33-year old Jamaal Hunt of Fort Walton Beach. Law enforcement is calling the bust the biggest in county history and say millions of dollars worth of illegal drugs are now off the streets. In total, 25 are facing charges in connection to Operation Hans Gruber including four federal arrests and 21 state of Florida arrests. A multi-agency drug investigation has resulted in the arrest of 15 people in Okaloosa County. to, 1 arrested in alleged armed carjacking, police searching, Mobile Police investigate alleged armed robbery at, Pedestrian struck, killed on Moffett Road Saturday, Baldwin Art For Heart Gala a Smashing Success!, Romar Beach Access in Gulf State Park to get parking, Forensic anthropologist now helping with identification, Police searching for 2 in alleged theft at Bay Minette, City of Foley plans new use for old armory building, Supervisor accused of inappropriately touching teenager, Idiots clear a path through Fish River in Baldwin, Plant Swap helps expand scope of Bay Minette Library, Staffing shortages limits recycling operations at, Pensacola International Airport to replace TSA scanners, Escambia Co. woman attempts to pull child into her, Lawmakers, local district look at ways to restrict, 3rd victim dies after rescue from Perdido Key rip, Parking improvements coming to Destin-Fort Walton, 1 injured after plane crash in Crestview: Okaloosa, New home built in Pensacola courtesy of Habitat for, Woman found with syringes of cocaine after shoplifting, Man wanted for battery on official arrested after, Woman killed after going to wrong address, man charged, Drum in lake is clue to missing woman, police say, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. A traffic stop was attempted around 11:30 Tuesday A Holt resident wanted on charges of aggravated assault, firing missiles into an occupied conveyance, and discharging a firearm in public tried to run from an attempted warrant service today but was ultimately captured. Okaloosa Co. deputies find fentanyl, cocaine inside toilet during raid OCSO deputies found methamphetamine, marijuana and fentanyl inside the home. Over $180,000 in drug proceeds, eight vehicles, five firearms, and over 1300 rounds of ammunition were seized and forfeited to the government. "Their lives are being destroyed by drugs. Just a week before the bust, two more overdoses were reported on the property. (Okaloosa County Sheriff's Office) By WJHG Newsroom. Two large swimming pools were being utilized as water holding tanks being fed by water pumps from Elk Creek. The sheriff described the amount of fentanyl seized in this investigation is enough to kill 150,000 people, which is roughly the population of Okaloosa County. Operation Hans Gruber began in March of 2021 investigating the drug trafficking activities of Deshawn Brown, Pablo Burgos-Lozada, Aubry Campbell, Jefferey Williamson, and co-conspirators involved in the purchase and sale of large amounts of cocaine. 58-year old Jack Colton of Beal Parkway is charged with sexual assault with a victim between the ages of twelve and eighteen. As a result of what was found at the home, 51-year old William "Tat" Beatty is charged with keeping a public nuisance . More:Man sentenced to 15 years after arrest for drug possession at Miramar Beach rental cabin. The agency has made 564 drug arrests in 2021, and typically ends each year with about 1,000 arrests. "The individuals that have been charged with trafficking, at this time they face a potential of 30 years in state prison," Bill Bishop with the State Attorney's Office said. Three arrested and more than a pound of meth seized in DeFuniak Springs drug bust, Man sentenced to 15 years after arrest for drug possession at Miramar Beach rental cabin, Your California Privacy Rights / Privacy Policy. Training and seminars for Federal, State, and Local Law Enforcement Agencies. A search warrant was executed Wednesday at 398 North Spring Street in Crestview. "We're fundamentally aware that we're dealing with people, in a lot of cases, the end-users who are addicts," Adkinson said. There have been three search warrants at 821 South Brett Street since 2019. Northern District of Florida Posted on October 27, 2022 October 27, 2022 WALTON COUNTY, Fla More than 3,000 grams of cocaine is seized during a yearlong investigation into drug trafficking in Walton and Okaloosa Counties resulting in the arrest of 21 people. Applicants claiming preference must submit a Form DD-214. We strive to reduce crime while providing fair and equal treatment for all. They say the kids were also sleeping on dirty clothes that had cockroaches crawling in them. The prosecutions were the result of a large-scale multi-agency investigation spearheaded by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Okaloosa County Sheriff's Office during a two-year investigation. The Okaloosa County Sheriffs Office is putting in place a program geared towards boosting the odds of better communication and emergency responses between deputies and citizens with special needs.The SAFE program focuses on families providing enhanced information We are committed to upholding the Constitution of the United States and the laws of Florida with excellence and integrity. FORT WALTON BEACH, Fla. ( WKRG) Okaloosa County deputies arrested one woman after she was found with several drugs, including 100 grams of meth and fentanyl pills. TULSA, Okla. (KTUL) The Haskell County Sheriff's Office arrested two people on Wednesday in connection to a drug trafficking investigation. 33-year old Heather Sutton then tried to climb out a window before being A pedestrian walking north across Highway 98 near Vinings Way Boulevard in Destin was struck by a car and killed Thursday night shortly after 6:30 p.m. Okaloosa County Sheriff's Office Investigators are working to determine the hometown of the 27-year old Hispanic Deputy Javonnia Peak and Sgt. The Okaloosa County Multi-Agency Drug Task Force continues to combat illegal drug activity and drug dealers throughout the local area. (850) 216-3845 Other charges include resisting without violence, keeping a public nuisance structure for drug activity, and tampering with or fabricating physical evidence. The OCSO said they found two small children sleeping on dirty clothes crawling with cockroaches in the home. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. All rights reserved. OKALOOSA COUNTY, Fla. -- Two people were arrested on drug trafficking charges after a traffic stop in Destin. That's all related to heroin, fentanyl, and [the] opioid crisis that we face, the state faces and the country faces," Sheriff Ashley said. "This investigation began because of a series of violent crimes we had earlier this. Additional charges and/or arrests may be forthcoming as a result of this investigation. These steps are often compact, practical and easy to move. Deputies entered the home on Pine street off East HWY 20 on Tuesday. The suspected illegal substances were each individually tested and yielded positive results for heroin, fentanyl, cocaine and marijuana, according to the report. Agents learned Weilun Zhang and Cindy Zheng bought property in rural Haskell County with money collected from selling black market marijuana. As a result of the investigation, the following defendants were convicted and have been sentenced to the following prison terms in federal court: This multi-year investigation and the resulting sentences demonstrate our law enforcement partners tireless efforts and commitment to public safety, stated Acting U.S. Attorney Coody. OKALOOSA COUNTY, Fla. (WJHG/WECP) - On January 6th, the Okaloosa County Sheriff's Office Drug Task Force and Special Response Team searched a house located at 201 Spruce Street in Mary. 18 arrested in Okaloosa County drug sweep. The bust took place at a homestead property at 34 9th Avenue that has been the source of multiple overdoses, drug-related deaths, and complaints from residents and developers in the community. There were no hemp plants located anywhere on the property. Families are torn apart because parents can't parent while high. Walton County Sheriff Michael Adkinson Jr. announced the arrests in a press conference Thursday along with U.S. Attorney Jason Coody and State Attorney Ginger Bowden Madden. Officials say 21 Chinese nationalists have been indicted by a grand jury in Colorado. Sheriff Ashley said. 2023 www.nwfdailynews.com. The investigation began in August 2017 and led to the execution of two search warrants in February 2018 at 118 Lake Street and 698 McDonald Street in Crestview. Five had been previously arrested on state charges and four individuals are still at large who have outstanding warrants. Multiple witnesses told the Okaloosa County Sherifif's Office 20-year old Anessia Jines was traveling at a high rate of speed Okaloosa County Sheriff's Office deputies responded to a call overnight of a man pointing a gun at another man's head at Brown's Grocery Store near Holt. The Okaloosa County Sheriff's Office is investigating a fatal balcony fall that took place at a Destin condominium early this morning. Due to the sheer size of the illegal operation, law enforcement spent two days conducting eradication and destruction of the marijuana plants. The United States Attorneys Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nations principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. Deputies said two kids were sleeping in the home near uncapped needles and drugs. Charges against 34-year-old Charley Bautista of Pine Street are possession of fentanyl and possession of drug paraphernalia. 2023 www.nwfdailynews.com. Deputies also located a digital scale with heroin residue on it on the kitchen counter and bags of marijuana in akitchen drawer, according to the report. Now, after a 10-month investigation, officials said they believe they've made a considerable dent in the sale and use of opioids. The Okaloosa County Sheriff's Office Street Crimes Unit (SCU) attempted to pull over a man with active felony warrants driving on State Road 85 last night, but the suspect decided to try to make a getaway instead. On June 9th a narcotics search warrant was executed at 321 NE Smith Drive, Ft. Walton Beach by members of the Okaloosa County Narcotics Unit, K9 Unit and with assistance from the Ft. Walton Beach Police Department. "They had another, third party person, license their grow for them," said Sheriff Tim Turner, Haskell County. Deputies were called to 3690 Scenic Highway 98 around 11:30 for a distressed swimmer. The head of the local operation, 33-year old Kevin Powell Jr., is charged with trafficking in heroin, trafficking in cocaine, and more. All rights reserved. "Okaloosa County is tied with West Palm Beach County as having the most heroin overdoses in the state of Florida," Okaloosa County Sheriff Larry Ashley said. The Douglas County Sheriffs Office and Douglas Interagency Narcotics Team (DINT) executed a search warrant in the 1000-block of Scotts Valley Road Wednesday, September 1, 2021. Sheriff Turner says he anticipates more illegal operations to start popping up here because he refers to Oklahoma and the loose medical marijuana laws as "The Wild West." Turner says this is the first case in Colorado involving marijuana where suspects are hit with the "Rico Act," which deals with organized crime and racketeering. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal Theft and burglaries increase. 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