2023 Cox Media Group. You may be offline. Investigators said the dealers were getting rich by selling their drugs to UCF students. In a sting that same night, officers said its detectivesuncovered a pair of handguns, fentanyl, heroin, methamphetamine, cocaine, synthetic marijuana andMDMAspread out across half of the motels rooms. Detectives raided 12 houses Thursday morning in Orange, Seminole, Lake and Polk counties, where agents brought out hundreds of pounds of pot. later estimated to have spawned winds between 158 mph and 207 mph lumbered across a 10-mile stretch of then-rural Dade . Depending on the circumstances surrounding their arrest, some of the suspects may be charged with felony drug charges and others with misdemeanor drug charges. So far in 2018, 54 people have died due to drug overdose, and that is a record. Several children were inside his home during the raid. "They have cameras. Cole said. Truett said he hopes TPD continues to put the pressure on motel owners to keep their properties from turning into havens of criminal activity. Suarez was the head of the Mexican drug trafficking ring. The sheriff said officials are working with the state attorney's office to make sure there is swift consequences for dealers. If you need help with the Public File, call 407-291-6000. Sheriff Lemma said. "Somebody else will probably just come up and fill his shoes, if he gets taken out," Thorpe said. Probably not the best situation for them," said Truett. BUSTER THOMPSON. PINELLAS COUNTY, Fla. (WFLA) - Drug Enforcement Administration and FBI agents raided four locations in Pinellas County on Thursday. They have been charged with importing cannabis from a different state and then selling it within the county. Officers also seized more than $51,000 and 20 guns, records show. On Tuesday, the Lee County Sheriff's Office (LCSO) announced operation 'curbside crackdown' lead to 50 arrests in a massive narcotics and gun bust at a North Fort Myers drug house. Reporter. A man accused of stealing two police cruisers was taken into custody with the help of the Volusia County sheriff on Thursday, according to the sheriffs office. "Particularly these seven people facing RICO charges, there is a minimum mandatory of 25 years in prison," Lemma said. Thomas is originally from Northeastern Pennsylvania and worked in Portland, Oregon before moving to Central Florida in August 2018. Seminole County, Fla. The Seminole County Sheriff's Office said Thursday that two highly organized drug distribution rings are off the streets. PANAMA CITY Bay County Sheriff Tommy Ford said a recent major drug bust had "one of the largest currency seizures" he . Its a sad day in our society when you cant even trust the locations that claim they are helping to get you clean.". Video: 11 arrested in Seminole County on drug charges. I can't remember a week that we have not talked about this location. Heine has been charged with operating a drug house, trafficking illegal drugs, five counts of a felon in possession of a firearm, felon in possession of ammunition and operating a motor vehicle without a license. "Quite literally this is a life or death situation.. In all, detectives had arrest warrants for 41 different suspects, many of whom were arrested in upscale homes in family neighborhoods. 22 It is the policy of the Randolph County Sheriff's Office to maintain a zero-tolerance for inmate-on-inmate sexual assault, staff sexual abuse, sexual misconduct, and/or sexual harassment toward any inmate It is 421666 Be careful on the road Seminole County police frequencies are avilable here Mission & Core Values . According to investigators, the heroin was not only being sold out of houses, incolding one house on Selma Road in Longwood where 62 grams of fentanyl were found, but dealers would meet up with addicts in parking lots all over the county to sell the dangerous drugs. All rights reserved. The deputies also located a semi-automatic Sig Sauer firearm inside the residence. Low-grade marijuana sells for $500 a pound. There are lots of students here. She has since posted bond and was released. Learn about careers at Cox Media Group. Investigators said they found large quantities of oxycodone, oxycontin, and morphine, as well cocaine and Alprazolam, which is also sold under the brand name Xanax. "Then why are you in custody?" Aug 01, 2022 at 7:00 am Seminole County Court Judge Group 5: Sandy Buie, Ken Lester and Erik Swenk Watch on The Orlando Sentinel Editorial Board interviews, Sandy Buie, Ken Lester and. Get the best experience and stay connected to your community with our Spectrum News app. A drug bust in Florida led to the seizure of enough fentanyl to kill at least 500,000 people, according to the Brevard County Sheriff's Office. Two of the arrests were said to be top leaders in the gang. We shouldn't be doing that," said Seminole Heights neighbor William Truett. I figured out what was going on," she said. Is Ron DeSantis running for president in 2024? One . If we can see it, they're seeing it as well.". [TRENDING: DeSantis to unemployed: Look for a job | Cops: Fla. woman hurls Whopper, racial slurs | Video: SpaceX Starship finally sticks landing]. 2023 FOX Television Stations, deadly shooting in front of the motel earlier this year, 5-year-old killed on Tampa road after falling out of pickup truck, troopers say, 'Absolute mayhem': Suspect dead after shootout in Poinciana, Polk County sheriff says, Steven Lorenzo sentenced to death for murders of Jason Galehouse and Michael Waccholtz in 2003, Cheerleader competes alone at state champs after squad quits: It felt amazing, Two top members of Latin Kings arrested in Hillsborough County, sheriff says, TPD: Video shows suspected officer impersonator who exposed himself to woman at Tampa hotel, USF Sarasota-Manatee to host groundbreaking for its first student housing complex, Berns Steak House requiring credit card for reservations, no-show fees will be donated to Feeding Tampa Bay, Feed flamingos at Sunken Gardens in St. Petersburg during annual festival, Train carrying propane derails in Manatee County, but no leaks detected: officials. . Tap on any of the buttons below to download our app. Seminole County Sheriff Dennis Lemma spoke on Tuesday about a significant drug bust. If that same statistic is true for UCF, than of the school's 53,500 students the drug operation had more than 16,000 potential customers. Updated: Sep 22, 2022 / 05:30 AM EDT TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) Two men suspected of buying and selling "large quantities" of fentanyl were arrested after authorities in Clay County uncovered enough of. A deadly shooting in front of the motel earlier this year only increased neighborhood calls for intervention. He bought the marijuana from Mexico and California and shipped it across state lines. Crowe said she had no idea her boyfriend was selling marijuana. The investigation revealed that David Cole had several sources of supply for the marijuana including Andrew Murdock of Winter Springs, Christopher Lafata and Jacob Parks both of Orlando, Christopher South, Samuel Peterson, Thomas Carpenter, Michael Grybek of Seminole County and Chase Alley of Orlando, who all worked and distributed marijuana collectively (see mug shots). That is a 21 percent increase from this time last year. He also produces the podcast Florida Foodie. - A monthslong, multi-agency investigation named "Operation: Heavyweights" has resulted in 54 arrests and the seizure of hundreds of pounds of illegal narcotics, Nassau County Sheriff Bill Leeper. WFTV asked for a comment from UCF President John Hitt, but did not get a response from the administration. Directory of interesting events that happened in Florida on this date in the month of May. Our Spectrum News app is the most convenient way to get the stories that matter to you. WINTER SPRINGS, Fla. - Opioids, thousands of dollars and nearly two dozen guns were taken off the streets by Winter Springs police Monday. Operation Sundown took nearly $300,000 worth of drugs off the streets, and most of the drugs seized are believed to be from the states. The suspects were allegedly selling and trading drugs illegally that they purchased legitimately. Seminole County authorities, along with 15 other agencies, confiscated 600 pounds of marijuana, guns, cars and $240,000 in cash. Seminole County cops arrest 19 in drug case, Man Found Asleep on a Florida Highway Charged with DUI, Florida Man Arrested for Assaulting an 82-year-old Woman. WINTER SPRINGS, Fla. Opioids, thousands of dollars and nearly two dozen guns were taken off the streets by Winter Springs police Monday. Is it going to shut it down? They were arrested Tuesday and Wednesday after a months-long investigation, he said. Seminole County deputies bust million-dollar heroin, fentanyl drug rings (WFTV.com). Florida 13 hours ago. Sanford, Florida 32773. Lemma said the two groups were responsible for bringing in thousands of doses of heroin. By clicking Sign Up, I confirmthat I have read and agreeto the Privacy Policy and Terms of Service. and last updated 7:21 PM, May 13, 2021. Florida State Senate District 10. While several arrests were made in Tallahassee, a large part of the operation ran through Gadsden County. Right now, I'm so scatter-brained. Those who face drug charges need to take the matter very seriously. More than $430K, about 14 pounds of drugs seized in major Bay County bust. Eleven other suspects are accused of purchasing drugs from the five primary suppliers. Neighbors brought their concerns about the motel to Tampa Police Chief Mary O'Connor during a recent neighborhood roll call,aprogram that brings police officers and residents together to discuss issues within their communities. While serving 14 search warrants early Thursday morning, agents arrested Suarez at his east Orange County home SEMINOLE HEIGHTS, Fla. - The Tampa Police Department is cracking down on nuisance hotels and motels. The buyers bought the high-grade product and then made millions in profits. The bust, entitled 'Operation Sundown' was the culmination of a five-month investigation by the City/County Investigative Bureau into two large UCF police confirmed that seven people arrested were students: David Cole, Christopher Tully, Rafael Leon, Jorge J. Henkle, Ronald Murray, Garrett Gibbons and Elijah Moore Jr. WFTV was at the UCF campus Thursday and nobody seemed surprised that several students moonlighted as drug dealers. In all, deputies seized 1,400 grams of what they believe is heroin; 4,026 grams of cocaine; 26 grams of fentanyl; 176 grams of marijuana; and seven firearms, one of which was a handgun reported stolen from Orange County. 407-665-3000 All Locations Skip MegaMenu and goto content David Cole, a University of Central Florida student, screamed at WFTV's cameras, "Legalize marijuana!" Kristen Schaefer was arrested on a charge of possessing drug paraphernalia and four counts of possessing a controlled substance. Authorities said they were able to bust the drug ring after they learned Cole was distributing $90,000 worth of pot a week. According to the Pinellas County Sheriffs Office, deputies found 192.6 pounds of marijuana while executing a search warrant at Gregory Heines Seminole home on Saturday. "Well, UCF being the third largest university in the country, it sounds like it, doesn't it?" Police were able to identify two marijuana dealers during the course of their investigation who were not actually a part of the drug ring. After receiving several complaints of ongoing criminal activity occurring at hotels and motels in Seminole Heights, TPD began surveilling several businesses along Nebraska Avenue. A routine traffic stop turned into a double drug bust on the northeastern coast of Florida in the wee hours of last Thursday. But Sergeant Williamson also stressed that accused kingpin David Cole and his UCF cohorts were all arrested off-campus. A marijuana operation brought in $750,000 per week and officers said they were selling mostly to University of Central Florida students. Seminole County Sheriff's Office | Sanford FL The two organizations were distributing $500,000 to $750,000 of pot per week. The arrest comes after Orange County deputies announced a large-scale drug ring bust of their own Thursday, though Lemma said the two rings did not work together. Search by. Heine, who had previously been convicted of felony possession of marijuana in Arizona, was not permitted to have a gun. A month-long investigation led detectives to zero in on the Alamo Motel, long cited as a haven for drug dealing and prostitution by neighbors. An employee at a Seminole County drug treatment facility was arrested Tuesday after deputies said she was found to have sold drugs, including the powerful synthetic opioid fentanyl, to people. Read:Two more blood pressure medications recalled over cancer concerns, Read:Ticking noise from electric toothbrush prompts evacuation at Daytona Beach airport, Sheriff: 4 found dead, including child, at Brevard County home, Governor requests information from state attorneys office on accused Pine Hills shooters record, Human skull, 30 other bones found at New Smyrna Beach historical site, All aboard: Ride SunRail for free this Saturday, Breeze Airways adds 4 new routes from Orlando International Airport. Crime Map. According to the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office, deputies found 192.6 pounds of marijuana while executing a search warrant at Gregory Heine's Seminole home on Saturday. SEMINOLE, Fla. - A man in Pinellas County is facing numerous charges after deputies discovered nearly 200 pounds of marijuana inside his home. Assault 02/20/2023 12:00 AM 1100 BLOCK OF CASTLE WOOD TERRACE Arrest 02/19/2023 12:00 AM 1300 BLOCK OF W 16TH ST Arrest 02/19/2023 12:00 AM 400 BLOCK OF E ORANGE ST Other 02/19/2023 12:00 AM 100 BLOCK OF VILLA DI ESTE TERRACE Arrest 02/19 . Courtesy: Pinellas County Sheriff's Office. This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged. Seminole County Sheriff Dennis Lemma spoke on Tuesday about a significant drug bust. Im glad they got them," said Michael Denmark. SEMINOLE COUNTY, Fla. - The operator of a Florida drug rehabilitation center has been arrested on charges of selling fentanyl and possession of cocaine out of her place of business and her home, deputies said. On Aug. 16, detectives began an investigation after receiving a tip that twin brothers Mason and Nicholas Aponte, 20, were selling large amounts of drugs from two residences in Oldsmar a. Florida lawmakers propose 'constitutional carry' bill, Orlando bar owners push back last-call security ordinance, FAA investigating near-miss at JFK Airport, 4 people found dead, including child, in Brevard County home, sheriff says, SpaceX Crew-6 launch: 'All systems are looking good' for liftoff from Florida, Sheriff: Florida man shoots own dog in head, blames it on 'intruder', FHP: Truck hauling oil overturns on I-95 in Palm Bay, Ron DeSantis reveals in memoir his one condition for getting married at Disney World. And then, what do you know, door was caved in. You know, you cut one head off, three more are going to pop up, said Sgt. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. I had no clue what was going on. 2023 (7) COPYRIGHT SEMINOLE COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE 2019. SEMINOLE COUNTY, Fla. The Seminole County Sheriff's Office said Thursday that two highly organized drug distribution rings are off the streets. As for the timing of the crackdown, campus police said it couldn't be better with spring break about to begin. On Monday, investigators said they executed a search warrant on the home. The Seminole County Sheriff's Office announced the arrests of key figures in two massive organized drug operations Thursday, which Sheriff Dennis Lemma said was key in fighting the deadly opioid epidemic on the streets of the county. I actually thought it was a bad nightmare. Nearly $1 million worth of narcotics were seized by law enforcement - including five kilograms of fentanyl, two kilograms of cocaine, two kilograms of methamphetamine, one kilogram of heroin and. WFTV learned much of the marijuana the ring sold had been grown legally in California under medical marijuana laws. Share currently playing on Facebook (Opens a new window), Share currently playing on Twitter (Opens a new window), Super-rare Jurassic-era bug discovered during Walmart shopping trip, Study finds exercising 22 minutes a day cuts risk of death by 31%, 36 killed, 85 injured in train collision in Greece. The Seminole County sheriff says two groups that were pumping heroin, fentanyl, and cocaine throughout Seminole County are out of business. SEMINOLE COUNTY, Fla. The Seminole County Sheriff's Office said Thursday that two highly organized drug distribution rings are off the streets. They also spotted a large amount of cash inside the home. 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