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GBPD assists in county drug sting

Along with several large screen televisions, bedroom furniture, 22 vehicles and $100,000 in narcotics, authorities seized a small arsenal of weapons after concluding an investigation that lasted more than a year. Franklin Hayes/Gulf Breeze News Gulf Breeze Police officers recently helped national, state and local authorities conclude a large-scale investigation that resulted in the arrests of 23 suspects in the Milton area. Two Gulf Breeze officers were involved in the year and a half long investigation, monitoring phone taps and helping with arrests May 16. With the 23 arrests, the Santa Rosa Sheriff's Office reported that the investigation uncovered a large conspiracy to distribute cocaine. The suspects were also linked to six drive by shootings in which three people were injured, one kidnapping and several home invasion robberies.

Santa Rosa Sheriff Wendell Hall referred to the concluded investigation as "the largest cocaine drug bust, to my knowledge, that's ever taken place in Santa Rosa County."

The multi agency investigation, which began in 2005, consumed 10,000 man hours and was cut short because suspects conducted a drive by shooting while under the surveillance of the Santa Rosa Sheriff's Narcotics Unit.

Authorities seized cocaine, crack cocaine, marijuana, ecstasy, 14 weapons, including two sawed off shotguns and assault rifles. Authorities also seized various electronic products and home furnishings including several large screen televisions, a laptop computer, leather couches and a bedroom suite that they believed were purchased with drug money. Santa Rosa Sheriff's deputies also seized $33,700 in cash and 22 automobiles. The large number of cars taken in the investigation prompted the Santa Rosa Sheriff's office to expand their impound lot to accommodate the surplus vehicles. Many of the cars impounded were heavily customized with designer interiors, television screens and after market rims. Two vehicles displayed custom airbrush paint jobs depicting the suspects and children surrounded by $100 bills, while other vehicles displayed bullet holes allegedly from drive by shootings.

Sheriff Wendell Hall said his organization expects to make additional arrests, adding, "We definitely feel that this is going to have a dramatic impact on the reduction of crime in and around the Milton area."

Lt. Rick Hawthorne with the Gulf Breeze Police Department said, "When you can knock out a ring as violent and dangerous as this, it affects everybody."

As of press time, Alonzo Johnson of Milton is still at large with an outstanding arrest warrant.

Suspects federally charged with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute over five

kilograms of cocaine and 50 grams of crack cocaine include George Simpson of Navarre, Rafael Goodwin of Milton, Sharon Dixon of Milton, Avarah Williams of Milton, Tabitha Dixon of Milton, Catrina Marsh of Milton, Valentine Vasser Jr. of Milton, Amber Hood of Milton, Kara Hood of Milton, David Johnson of Milton, Frederick Johnson of Milton and Kenneth Stallworth of Milton.

Suspects facing felony state drug charges include 3 juveniles whose names were not released, Jamie Williams of Pace, Jennifer Whitaker of Milton, Debra Goodwin of Milton, Tara Williams of Milton, Olivia Dixon of Milton, Jessica Goodwin of Milton, and Sybil McClain of Milton. Suspect

Marcus Porter of Milton is currently being held by authorities in Alabama where he faces minor charges, but is expected to be extradited to Santa Rosa County.

Spearheaded by members of the Santa Rosa Sheriff's Office, the investigation also included assistance from the Escambia County Sheriff's Office, Milton Police Department, Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE), Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), Internal Revenue Service (IRS), and the U.S. Attorney's Office.

Milton Police Chief Greg Brand expressed his gratitude saying, "[The] Milton Police Department would have never been able to conduct an investigation of this magnitude with out this kind of assistance. The relationship that existed in Santa Rosa County with all the federal, state and local agencies I think is unsurpassed anywhere in the state and it's something that certainly I'm very appreciative of."