LCSO makes numerous drug arrests and drug seizures in Inglis; patrols increased
Levy County Sheriff's Office (LCSO)
Levy County Detention Bureau, Bronson, Florida
Inglis, Florida - In a less than twenty-one days (Sept. 21 - Oct. 13, 2021), Levy County Sheriff’s Office deputies assigned to the Inglis area have made six arrests and seized various types of drugs, including the deadly drug fentanyl.
According to Lt. Scott Tummond with the LCSO, within the past four months, deputies have responded to three reported drug overdoses, which in two cases required the administration of Narcan by a deputy to reverse the effect of the narcotic. In addition, emergency medical services with the Levy County Department of Public Safety have responded to other calls of similar potential drug overdoses, and in response to these increased calls for emergency services, Levy County Sheriff Bobby McCallum has increased drug enforcement efforts and patrols within the community.
OCTOBER 13, 2021
On Oct. 13, Deputy Cody Weaver watched as Joshua Gabriel Moretz, 31, of Belleview, Florida, entered a vehicle parked at a gas pump at the Circle K gas station, located at 4 U.S. Hwy. 19 S. in Inglis, and drive away. Aware that Mortez's driver's license had been suspended, Deputy Weaver attempted to conduct a traffic stop on the vehicle, which abruptly turned into the Palm Point subdivision.
Eventually, Deputy Weaver was able to conduct the traffic stop on the vehicle, assisted by K-9 Deputy Alton Horne and his canine partner, Behr. Deputies learned that Moretz had switched places with passenger Sydney Allen, 23, also of Inglis, who was driving at the time of the traffic stop.
During the traffic stop, according to the press release, the following drugs were seized: cocaine, fentanyl, marijuana, marijuana wax and heroin. Moretez and Allen were both taken into custody and transported to the Levy County Detention Bureau in Bronson, Florida.
Mr. Moretz was charged with fleeing from a law enforcement officer in pursuit with lights and sirens activated, driving while license suspended, with previous offenses; two counts of possession of a controlled substance without a prescription, trafficking in more than 4 grams but less than 30 kilograms of heroin, and possession of drug equipment; his bond had not been set at the time of the press release.
Ms. Allen was charged with fleeing from a law enforcement officer in pursuit with lights and sirens activated, two counts of possesion of a controlled substance without a prescription, trafficking in more than 4 grams but less than 30 kilograms of heroin, possession of drug equipment, and resisting an officer without violence; her bond had not been set at the time of the press release.
While taking Moretz and Allen into custody, Deputy Horne was exposed to fentanyl, a dangerous and often fatal drug, which necessitated his hospitalization at a local emergency center, where he is being held in stable condition. Deputies believe that Moretz and Allen attempted to throw drugs out of the vehicle's window while it was still fleeing from Deputy Weaver, which caused the drug to flow back inside the vehicle, covering most surfaces inside the vehicle, as well as Moretz and Allen.
"Deputies experience all types of peril in their daily duties," Said Lt. Tummond. "Fentanyl is an extremely dangerous drug..."
“We are praying for Deputy Horne and his speedy recovery," said Sheriff McCallum. "Drugs are a constant danger our deputies face daily, across the nation, as they protect the innocent citizens in their communities. In this case, these suspects are not first time offenders and must be held accountable by the criminal justice system, as they are a deadly threat to our community."
OCTOBER 12, 2021
On Oct. 12, Deputy Dean MacIntyre conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle being driven by Taylor O’Connor, 31, of Inglis. During the traffic stop, K-9 Deputy Alton Horne's canine partner, Behr, detected the odor of narcotics. A search of the vehicle located marijuana that was laced with heroin and drug equipment that contained methamphetamine residue. Deputy MacIntyre noticed O’Connor fidgeting with her bra and asked her to remove the item she was hiding, and she surrendered a baggie of methamphetamine. O’Connor was charged with two counts of possession of a controlled substance without a prescrioption, possession of drug equipment, and tampering with evidence; her bond had not been set at the time of the press release.
OCTOBER 8, 2021
On October 8, 2021 Deputy Dean MacIntyre conducted a traffic stop on Curtis Carter, 39, of Inglis, Florida, when he was observed riding a bicycle in an unsafe manner. As a result of this stop, Deputy MacIntyre seized methamphetamine, Xanax, alprazolam and marijuana. Carter was charged with three counts of possession of a controlled substance without a prescription, trafficking in 14 or more grams of methamphetamine, and possession of drug equipment, with his bond set at $86,000.
OCTOBER 6, 2021
On Oct. 6, Deputy Nelson Macias made contact with two individuals who were pushing a shopping cart onto the sidewalk from the Dollar General store, located at 95 U. S. Hwy. 19 South in Inglis. The cart was filled with personal items. During this contact, Deputy Macias seized methamphetamine from April Bowers, 42, of Inglis. She was charged with possession of a controlled substance without a prescription, with her bond set at $30,000.
SEPTEMBER 21, 2021
On Sept. 21, Deputy Nelson Macias conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle driven by Samuel Whitney, 57, of Bremerton, Washington. Deputy Macias seized methamphetamine, marijuana and drug equipment from the vehicle and arrested Whitney on charges of possession of drug equipment, possession of marijuana less than 20 grams, and possession of a controlled substance without a prescription, with his bond set at $32,000.