Drug Operation on Stock Island disrupted by arrests

Sheriff's detectives and the Special Weapons and Tactics Team disrupted a Stock Island drug operation Friday when they served two search warrants simultaneously, arresting six people on multiple drug related charges.

Colonel Rick Ramsay received information that drug activity was taking place and he asked Special Operations detectives to look into it. As they began their investigations, they realized the drug activity was not only taking place, but the drug sales were frequent. The information they were able to gather over a month's time led them to obtain two search warrants - one for 6415 2nd Street, Apartment B, and one for D-44 11th Avenue.

Ramsay, who was there when the searches were conducted, said this was a large drug sales operation.

“These people were very organized and were selling lots of drugs,” he said. “With this operation, we are making a significant dent in the sales of illegal drugs on Stock Island.”

He added that receiving information from citizens, and the partnership the Sheriff’s Office has with the law abiding people living and working in the Keys is important, especially in cases like this.

“We really need citizens to step up – to bring us information about illegal activity. By working together on cases like this one, citizens and law enforcement all come out winners,” he said.

At the 2nd Street location, the search revealed a crack cocaine lab as well as powdered cocaine, crack cocaine and 352 grams of marijuana packaged for individual sale. They also found $1,761.00 in cash believed to be the proceeds from drug sales. A Glock Model 26 handgun was also found. The resident of the apartment - Robert Brown - is a convicted felon and is not allowed to be in possession of weapons. Brown, along with Horace Calhoun, Clarence Moore, Jr. and Shamichael Johnson were all at the apartment and were all taken into custody.

While they were searching the apartment, detectives found what appeared to be a pipe bomb. Detective Sgt. Bobby Randolph, who heads up the Sheriff's Office Bomb Squad, responded. The apartment complex was evacuated while he removed the device, which was subsequently destroyed.

At the 11th Street residence, detectives found marijuana, Oxycontin, crack cocaine, drug paraphernalia and a 9mm Ruger handgun. $1,032 in cash proceeds from drug sales was also seized. Two people - Tawana Blackman and Leroy Lawson were both arrested at that location.

·         Calhoun, 31 of Stock Island was charged with six counts of Sale of Cocaine requiring a bond of $320,000.00.  He was further charged with Possession of cocaine with intent to distribute, possession of felony amount of marijuana with intent to distribute and possession of drug paraphernalia.

·         Moore, 29, from Key West was charged with two counts of Sale of Cocaine requiring a bond of $60,000.00. He was further charged with Possession of cocaine with intent to distribute, possession of felony amount of marijuana with intent to distribute and possession of drug paraphernalia.

·         Johnson, 22 of Stock Island was charged with Possession of cocaine with intent to distribute, possession of felony amount of marijuana with intent to distribute and possession of drug paraphernalia.

·         Brown, 37 of Stock Island was charged with one count of Sale of Cocaine requiring a bond of $35,000.00 he was further charged with Possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.

·         Blackman, 32 of Stock Island was charged with possession of a controlled substance, and possession of cocaine.

·         Lawson, 23 from Stock Island was charged with possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and possession of less than 20 grams of marijuana.

Federal and state agencies that assisted with this investigation were Federal Bureau of Investigations, The Drug Enforcement Administration, Florida Department of Law Enforcement and Immigration Customs Enforcement Homeland Security Investigators.