Meanwhile, Elias also searched the inside of the car and in a pocket on the back of the passenger car, he found a multi-colored, tin container. Winds light and variable.. 55. Deputies also found 6.15 pounds of cannabis in the home’s living room, 1.9 ounces of ecstasy, three fentanyl patches, 11 vials of steroids, and materials intended to be used to store or use illegal drugs. If you suspect illegal drug activity, please report it to us at (352)726-1121 or to Citrus County … Probation officers and detectives also executed a search warrant at 726 North Griffith Avenue in Crystal River, which led to the arrests of 41-year-old Jeffery Conner and 40-year-old Lisa Bonugli on several drug-related charges. Knox county indiana drug bust Knox county indiana drug bust. Deputies said he could face 140 years in prison, if convicted. During a routine probation check, deputies went to the home of 33-year-old Daniel Battisti – located at 11 South Washington in Beverly Hills -- and confronted him on their suspicions of illegal activity. Low 48F. Citrus County Sheriff Office Information Due to Florida State Statutes regarding Florida Public Records Law, arrest reports must be reviewed prior to being posted on the internet. “When I got elected sheriff, I told the drug dealers they can run, but they can’t hide,” he said during a press conference. Judge won't move trial in Floyd's death; 13th juror picked, Over Easy: Sunshine, asparagus quiche signal spring. But he also found a cellophane wrapper and inside 16 alprazolam pills and a baggie with crystal material, which later tested positive for methamphetamine. Citrus County Sheriff's Office makes biggest drug bust in county history, Man at center of largest meth, fentanyl bust charged again for tossing drugs in jail, Court Digest: Case of largest meth, fentanyl seizure set for trial, 4221 W Gulf To Lake Highway, Lecanto, FL 34461, 4951 W. Strawberry Lane, Homosassa, FL 34446, 206 W Dampier Street, Inverness, FL 34450, 2915 West Dunnellon Road, Dunnellon, FL 34433, 8445 W Homosassa Trail, Homosassa , FL 34448, 151 E Highland Boulevard, Inverness, FL 34450, 123 NW Highway 19 , Crystal River, FL 34428, 1070 N Suncoast Boulevard, Crystal River, FL 34429, 403 W Highland Blvd., Inverness, FL 34452, 5337 W Gulf to Lake Highway, Lecanto, FL 34461, 255 E Highland Boulevard, Inverness, FL 34452, 6604 W Gulf To Lake Highway, Crystal River, FL 34429, 1206 SE US Highway 19, Crystal River, FL 34429, 6373 S Suncoast Blvd, Homosassa, FL 34446, 4841 S Pleasant Grove Road, Inverness, FL 34452, 275 SE U.S. Highway 19, Crystal River, FL 34429, 9800 N Citrus Avenue, Crystal River, FL 34428, 1050 SE US Highway 19, Crystal River, FL 34429, 760 West Hampshire Boulevard, Citrus Springs, FL 34434, 669 NE US Highway 19, Crystal River, FL 34429, 390 N Suncoast Boulevard, Crystal River, FL 34429, 439 East Norvell Bryant Highway, Hernando, FL 34442, 2081 S Suncoast Blvd, Homosassa, FL 34448, 3075 S. Florida Avenue, Inverness, FL 34450, 685 E Gulf To Lake Hwy, Lecanto, FL 34461, 6677 W Gulf To Lake Highway, Crystal River, FL 34429, Florida Cancer Specialists & Research Institute, 770 SE 5th Terrace, Crystal River, FL 34429, 507 West Main Street , Inverness, FL 34450, 2424 N Heritage Oaks Path , Hernando, FL 34442, 9870 W Fort Island Trail, Crystal River, FL 34429. Inside the tin box, Elias found a plastic bag with crystal material inside that later tested positive for methamphetamine. The two Popes were father and son, according to the Sheriff's Office. That’s where deputies found an array of drugs and guns. When Laborda searched the trunk he found a book bag. Odie soon alerted his handler that drugs were in the trunk, according to arrest records. “As I have said before, if you deal drugs in Citrus County, I am coming after you with my team,” Prendergast said. BEVERLY HILLS, Fla. - Nearly a million dollars of narcotics are off the streets in what the Citrus County Sheriff’s Office is calling the biggest drug bust in its history. He was arrested on several drug-related charges, including trafficking. If you suspect illegal drug activity, please report it to us at (352)726-1121 or to Citrus County … Florida passed the Sunshine Protection Act in 2018 hoping to make Daylight Saving Time (DST) permanent. Citrus County Sheriff Mike Prendergast speaks to assembled media about the results of "Operation Coin Toss," a 2-month covert operation targeting drug trafficking in the county… The Citrus Heights Police Department’s Special Investigations Unit (SIU) and the Post-Release Community Supervision (PRCS) enforcement team were responsible for the investigation that … CITRUS SPRINGS, Fla. - A search warrant resulted in an arrest after Citrus County deputies confiscated drugs, guns, and a stolen motorcycle and ATV, which belongs to state officials. Pope lives at 9075 N. Arcadia Way, Citrus Springs, south of Dunnellon. Inside the house deputies found a Smith and Wesson .40 caliber pistol, a .38 special revolver, an SKS assault rifle, two 12-gauge shotguns, and a .410 pump action shotgun, according to arrest records. The Citrus County SWAT Team made entry into the residence and secured several subjects inside the home. Ricky Lee Pope’s day got worse when about four hours later the Citrus County Sheriff’s Office’s Tactical Impact Unit, with a search warrant in hand, went to Ricky Lee Pope’s home in Citrus Springs. As a result, posting of an arrest report may be delayed up to 72 hours after the arrest has been processed. Promotional Rates were found for your code. by Whittel & Melton, LLC. Constantly updated. Meanwhile, Elias also found under the passenger seat, where Justin Pope was sitting, a lunch box, according to arrest reports. Ordering the driver out of the car, Laborda found a wrench socket in Pope’s pocket and looking as if it had been converted into a homemade smoking device. They said Battiste was on parole for grand theft from New York and was allowed to be in Florida following an interstate compact. His second bond was set at $169,000. 30 Arrested in 2nd Phase of Illegal Drug Operation in Citrus County By Spectrum News Staff Citrus County UPDATED 6:28 PM ET Nov. 19, 2019 PUBLISHED 2:22 … Investigators searched two different homes last Friday. The 1 p.m. bust also took drugs with a value of nearly $131,000 off the streets, along with several firearms. While continuing their search , TIU detectives located three loaded handguns, one which had already been reported stolen. CITRUS COUNTY, Fla. (WFLA) – Almost $1 million in drugs were seized during the largest drug bust in Citrus County Sheriff’s Office history on Friday. The drug overdose death rate in Citrus County during 2018 was 34.4 per 100,000 residents, according to Florida HealthCharts, which collects health statistics from Florida departments of health as well as other agencies. Inside the book bag he found two sandwich bags and inside those leafy material that later tested positive for cannabis, weighing 12.2 grams, according to arrest records. When deputies arrested Ricky Lee Pope, Pope claimed to have a medical marijuana card, but could not produce it for deputies, according to arrest reports. His bond was $17,000. His bond was set at $4,000. The Citrus County Sheriff’s Office said it seized 1.6 pounds of meth, 1.6 ounces of powdered fentanyl and much more during a traffic stop Thursday. We hope that you continue to enjoy our free content. By: Wendi Lane Posted at 3:57 PM, May 21, 2019 While searching the residence, detectives located methamphetamine, heroin, and cocaine. The arrest and subsequent raid at a Citrus Springs home began when Detective Mike Laborda stopped a red, 2011 Chevrolet Camaro when the driver, Ricky Lee Pope, 56, of Citrus Springs, didn’t stop at a stop sign on North Florida Avenue, outside of Dunnellon, according to arrest reports. Dispatch-sponsored Imagination Library provides a free book each month to Lowndes County children under the age of 5. Sorry, no promotional deals were found matching that code. He was charged with five counts of possession of a controlled substance, possession of cannabis, less than 20 grams, drug paraphernalia, and tampering with evidence. “I am grateful for the outstanding law enforcement work by everyone involved in this case and their relentlessness to arrest drug dealers like Ricky Pope so they are no longer a threat to our community.”. Citrus County Sheriff Nets 24 Arrests in 2-Month Undercover Drug Bust. Sheriff Mike Prendergast as well as members of the agency's Tactical Impact Unit pose Friday morning in front of a myriad narcotics, weapons, cash and other items seized early Thursday after executing a search warrant following a traffic stop. By Jennifer Trovato Posted: 4/23/2014. Also inside was a plastic baggie that contained brown material that later tested positive for heroin, according to arrest reports. The Citrus County Sheriff’s Office said it seized 1.6 pounds of meth, 1.6 ounces of powdered fentanyl and much more during a traffic stop Thursday. “If they’re going to sell drugs in this county, I’m coming after them.”, This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Drug and alcohol use has always been rampant in Hollywood and is often blamed on the stress of fame and a non-stop flow of money. Law enforcement officers seized over $36,000 worth of drugs, multiple vehicles, and over $100,000 in cash during drug bust in Clermont, Florida. Please purchase a subscription to read our premium content. What started as a visit from a man’s probation officers, ended with the Citrus County Sheriff’s Office seizing close to $1 million in drugs and setting a record for the department on June 14. Next to Pope in the passenger seat was Justin Derrick Minor Pope, 32, of 1571 E. Sheridan Lane, Hernando. Partly cloudy skies. If you have a subscription, please log in or sign up for an account on our website to continue. With the Legislative session now underway, what should lawmakers focus on the most? He also found a scale with residue that tested positive for methamphetamine, and two pills which tested positive for ecstasy. Filed Under: Bucks County … “My office is committed to keeping our citizens safe from these deadly narcotics.”. The Citrus Springs home is located at 2691 West Arbutus Drive. By CBS3 Staff February 5, 2021 at 7:00 am. This search yielded several items of drug paraphernalia, over an ounce of crystal methamphetamine, firearm ammunition, 2 stolen ATVs, and one stolen outboard motor. One of the weapons seized by law enforcement officials included a handgun with a homemade silencer, fashioned out of an oil filter. We are proud of this accomplishment and attribute it to the high quality of work put forth by our employees. Sheriff’s Office makes largest fetanyl, meth bust in county history On Jan. 20, the Citrus County Sheriff’s Office (CCSO) added another accomplishment into the history books by seizing 1.6 pounds of methamphetamine and 1.8 ounces of powdered fentanyl. ORANGEVALE (CBS13) — Fourteen locations were raided as part of a federal wiretap operation Tuesday in the Sacramento area. Get access to this story, and every story when you try unlimited access for just $6.50 $1.99. Citrus County detectives said Tuesday that Battisti is considered to be the “highest-level” drug dealer deputies have encountered since Citrus County Sheriff Mike Prendergast has been in office. Being a convicted felon, it violated Florida law to have the weapons in his home. The additional charges included two counts of trafficking in opioids, six counts of possessing firearms, two counts of possessing controlled substances, two counts of possessing or manufacturing or intending to sell controlled substances, trafficking in methamphetamine, leasing a home for purposes of trafficking in drugs, and possessing drug paraphernalia. A probation officer found illegal drugs, and a search warrant was obtained. Investigators searched two different homes last Friday. Deputies charged Ricky Lee Pope a second time. Find latests mugshots and bookings from Citrus Springs and other local cities. On Jan. 20, the Citrus County Sheriff’s Office (CCSO) added another accomplishment into the history books by seizing 1.6 pounds of methamphetamine and 1.8 ounces of powdered fentanyl. There was a problem saving your notification. The amount of confiscated drugs was greater than the previous Citrus County record in 2019 when law enforcement officials found just over one pound of methamphetamine. More choices have helped Florida’s public schools. The Citrus County Sheriff’s Office claims it has been on the offense against drug trafficking for the past two months through a covert operation they call “Operation Coin Toss. That’s where deputies found an array of drugs and guns. 2 Suspects Arrested After Car Stop Leads To $4 Million Drug Bust, Bucks County DA Says. And Hernando County Sheriff ’ s history Arcadia Way, Citrus and drug bust in citrus county County Sheriff ’ s.. People, ” said Sheriff Mike Prendergast following an interstate compact by law enforcement officials a... 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