18 drug suspects rounded up in south Brooksville

If value is measured in drug arrests, the Hernando County Sheriff's Office struck it rich last week.

Two Jan. 25 search warrants and a round-up of suspects with outstanding warrants resulted in a bevy of captures across south Brooksville.

In all, 18 suspects were captured during a five-day period that began the day detectives searched the two homes, according to the sheriff's office.

Deputies said another seven wanted suspects remain at large – Joshua Lamonte Bailey, 32, Ryan V. Holland, 21, Jamar Demarcus Maner, 25, Kenneth Jerome Mason, 25, James Saxton III, 27, Randall Smith, 22, and Herman Charles Manor, 50.

The search warrants were executed at 820 Peach St. and 1351 E. Jefferson St.

Detectives seized marijuana, crack cocaine, $5,300 in cash, a 2007 Nissan pickup, a 2003 Dodge pickup and various drug paraphernalia at both houses.

"Getting sufficient evidence to conduct a search warrant, especially for drugs, is a very labor-intensive task," said Sheriff Al Nienhuis in a media statement Wednesday.

Detectives said the investigating the two houses as well as acquiring the necessary probable cause to issue all of the arrest warrants took about four months.

The case was started following an anonymous complaint, according to the sheriff's office.

"There is little doubt that drugs fuel crime," Nienhuis said. "Taking criminals off the streets, whether they are selling drugs or they are wanted for another crime, is the highest priority in preventing crime."

The search warrants led to the arrests of Gabriel Taylor, 30, Coyette Wright, 40, and Theodis Berry, 30.

Arrest warrants for the remaining suspects were obtained through undercover buys, detectives said.

Michael Drake, 50, Tierra Goodson, 35, Ples Hammond, 54, Arthur Williams, 19, Dwayne Williams, 34, and Gwendolyn Williams, 57, were among those located in the areas near the search warrants.

Also arrested days later were James Waddy, 22, Christopher Cresser, 26, Donte Mason, 35, Robert Lee Moore, 61, Sherry Napier, 56, Zachery Owens, 37, Quentin Simmons, 20, Brandon Stover, 28, and Kary Washington III, 21.

The charges among the suspects vary. Most of them are accused of dealing drugs – either crack cocaine or marijuana – in proximity of a church while at least two are accused of selling them within 1,000 feet of a day care.

The Brooksville Police Department assisted during the search warrants and located some of the wanted suspects, according to the sheriff's office.

"Removing these dealers from the streets should have a positive impact on the quality of life for the law-abiding citizens in these areas," Nienhuis said of the arrests.