Drug Investigation Leads to 4 Warrants, 10 Arrests

BRADENTON, FL — Ten people face criminal charges following a two-month investigation by the Bradenton Police Department related to the sale of heroin in the city.

According to the agency, the investigation targeted “the illegal sale of narcotics to include heroin which has led to several overdose deaths.” The investigation resulted in detectives obtaining warrants to search four residences in the community. The searches were conducted Thursday with the arrests in three of the cases announced Friday, Oct. 28.

One warrant was served at a rear efficiency apartment in the 2000 block of 12th Street West. Those arrested from this site were:

Sherica Garvin, 26, of Bradenton

• Three counts of sale of heroin

Ra’Keese Waters, 20, of Bradenton

• One count of sale of heroin

Calvin M. Dawes, 29, of Bradenton

• One count of obstruction

India C. Turner, 29, of Bradenton

• One count of possession of marijuana (charges pending)

Rodney Waters, 22, of Bradenton

• One count of possession of marijuana (charges pending)

Aaron Martin, 20, of Bradenton

• One count of possession of paraphernalia

Samuel Silas, 26, of Bradenton

• One count of possession of paraphernalia

Kenya S. Pinkney, 24, of Bradenton

• One count of possession of marijuana

Another warrant was served in the 200 block of 12th Avenue West. That search resulted in the arrest of Karlton Williams, 45, of Bradenton. He was charged with two counts of sale of cocaine.

Noel Joshua Wade, 36, of Bradenton was charged following a warrant search in the 1500 block of 14th Street West. Police say he faces two counts of sale of heroin and one count each of possession of cocaine, synthetic marijuana and marijuana charges.

Details related to the fourth search warrant have not been released.

Heroin remains a major concern in Florida. As of Oct. 19, the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office had fielded 891 suspected heroin overdose calls since 2016 began. Sixty of those calls resulted in deaths.

With several months left in 2016, the sheriff’s office recently issued a warning about the dangers this drug can pose. In particular, deputies are concerned about the use of such drugs as fentanyl and carfentanyl that are often mixed in with heroin sold to users.

“Fentanyl and carfentanyl are much stronger than heroin and are attributed to many of the fatal overdoses,” an email from Dave Bristow, sheriff’s office spokesman, warned.

Nearby Sarasota County has also been fighting an uphill battle in regard to heroin overdoses in 2016. In September, law enforcement there issued a plea after receiving 44 overdose calls that resulted in eight deaths in a two-month period.

"We're seeing people selling fentanyl and carfentanil as heroin and cocaine,” said Sarasota Police Lt. Randy Boyd in September. “Users are unaware that it's not heroin or cocaine. People are dying in our community. We have to bring awareness to this crisis.”

Main image via Shutterstock/ Booking photos courtesy of the Bradenton Police Department