Four arrested in Inverness as result of drug search warrant

Citrus County Sheriff's Office

Inverness, Florida - During the early morning hours of March 8, 2024, four people were arrested at a residence located at 304 South Pine Avenue in Inverness, as the result of a narcotics investigation. The narcotics search warrant was served at 5:40 am. The arrests included
Dennis Gene Himmel, age 37,
Mary Elizabeth Wallace, age 39,
Claire Marie Beck, age 40, and
Jason Scott Flynn, age 46.

Each was incarcerated at the Citrus County Detention Facility in Lecanto, Florida.

The arrests were made by the Citrus County Sheriff's Office (CCSO) Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) team and the Tactical Impact Unit (TIU).

The narcotics investigation began when the agency's Tactical Impact Unit received information that Himmel was selling illegal narcotics within Citrus County, even though he'd been released from prison on similar charges in April 2023. During an investigation, detectives determined that Himmel was, indeed, dealing in illicit narcotics, mainly fentanyl, and established probable cause to obtain the search warrant.

When the search warrant was executed at Himmel's residence, none of the home's occupants complied with commands made by law enforcement personnel to exit the residence, so the SWAT team breached the door to enter it, and secured several people before they came across a locked bedroom door, where Himmel was found hiding. He initially refused to obey commands to exit the bedroom, but eventually complied. During his arrest, Himmel was using a speakerphone to talk to a female who told him to not speak to law enforcement.

TIU members searched the residence and located the drugs fentanyl, methamphetamine, and alprazolam, along with numerous items of drug paraphernalia commonly used in drug sales.

Himmel, a three-time convicted felon, was arrested on three warrants, two for trafficking in fentanyl and the sale of fentanyl within 1,000 feet of a school, and one for the sale of fentanyl and the sale of fentanyl within 1,000 feet of a school. He was additionally charged with possession of fentanyl with the intent to sell, possession of methamphetamine with the intent to sell, possession of a controlled substance (alprazolam), and possession of drug paraphernalia. His bonds were set at none.

Wallace was charged with possession of a controlled substance; her bond was set at $2,500.

Flynn, a two-time convicted felon, was charged with possession of drug paraphernalia; his bond was set at $500.

Beck, a three-time convicted felon, was charged with possession of drug paraphernalia; her bond was set at $500.

"Thanks to the efforts of the Tactical Impact Unit, and with the assistance of the Citrus County Sheriff's Office SWAT team, a habitual offender has been removed from our streets," said Citrus County Sheriff Mike Prendergast. "Fentanyl is an extremely deadly synthetic opioid that kills over one-hundred thousand people every year nationwide. Drug dealers have no place in our community, especially habitual offenders like Himmel, who apparently will never learn. We will continue to fight illicit drug activity in our community at every given opportunity."

Citrus County residents, if you SEE something, SAY something! The CCSO non-emergency phone line is staffed 24/7 and can be reached at (352) 249-2790.

About the Citrus County Sheriff's Office's Tactical Impact Unit

The responsibilities of the Tactical Impact Unit include narcotics investigations, conducting street-level reverse stings and regular checks for narcotics in schools, and traffic interdiction. The unit coordinates with and assists other organizations and departments in combating street-level drug crimes. The unit's detectives identify, investigate, and infiltrate street and mid-level narcotics dealers and their organizations within Citrus County. They work closely with other units within the CCSO's Bureau of Special Investigations, as well as local, state, and federal authorities.