JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Jacksonville Sheriff T.K. Waters held a news conference Thursday to announce multiple drug and gun arrests on the city’s Westside following a recent search warrant.
After getting a tip from a Sheriff’s Watch member, JSO’s Narcotics Unit began an investigation into the report that stemmed from people reportedly selling illegal drugs out of two homes, JSO said, one on Mauldin Lane in the Duclay neighborhood and another on Firestone Road near 103rd Street.
The unit later made nine arrests after several guns and large amounts of multiple drugs were found.
“This concerned citizen brought narcotics activity to police attention during the February District 4 Sheirff’s Watch meeting,” Waters said. “I would like to encourage everyone in every district to become members and be a part of Sheriff’s Watch meetings which are very important. We can talk directly to one another.”
Police bodycam video and cell phone pictures from neighbors recorded the moment when a JSO tactical unit served a search warrant at a home on Mauldin Lane as part of the narcotics investigation. A home on Firetower Road was also raided in connection to the same investigation.
A gun found in one of the homes matched casings that were collected at a February attempted murder scene where someone was shot and also a mass shooting that same month into a home where several adults and children were inside, Waters said. Thankfully no one was hurt during that shooting, he added.
Inside the homes, police said they found:
- 994 grams of methamphetamine
- 164 grams of fentanyl
- 49 grams of cocaine
- 287 grams of marijuana
“We discovered this home was not only being used to store drugs, but also being used for the manufacture and distribution of narcotics,” Waters said. “Gun violence is woven into the fabric of the illegal narcotics trade. And this agency will continue to target and dismantle drug operations in Jacksonville.”
Police said none of this would have been discovered had it not been for a tip by a neighbor who showed up at a neighborhood Sheriff’s Watch meeting.
Rae Walker is a 22-year member of the Sheriff’s Watch Program. She said ridding her neighborhood of illegal drug activity is a priority.
“It’s one of those things you see, you hear, and report it. Then it becomes a matter of hurry up and wait because they can’t process everything overnight,” Walker said.
Scott Knight also said the suspected drug activity has been an ongoing problem.
“The cars come and go all night long. One after another, after another, after another,” Knight said.
Not every neighbor is convinced the tip to the police did enough to stop the drug activity from reoccurring in their neighborhood.
“This is not much of a relief. It hasn’t really changed anything. There is still traffic going in and out of there so,” one woman said.
The Sheriff’s Watch program has different levels. There’s one for neighborhoods, one for apartments, one for people who live along the river and opportunities for you to participate in monthly meetings in your area of town.
If you’d like more information on how to get involved, visit JSO’s website.