FORT PIERCE, Fla. (CBS12) — A late-night probation check turned into a major bust as law enforcement uncovered stolen guns, trafficking-level drugs, and thousands in cash across Fort Pierce.
The St. Lucie County Sheriff’s Office (SLCSO) announced on Wednesday that a coordinated multi-agency operation targeting probation offenders resulted in multiple arrests and the seizure of firearms, narcotics, cash, and drug manufacturing equipment across the county.
The investigation began on the evening of October 14, and continued into the early hours of October 15. SLCSO said its Special Investigations Division (SID), in collaboration with the Fort Pierce Police Department Crime Suppression Unit (CSU) and the Florida Department of Corrections Probation and Parole Division, conducted a strategic probation compliance sweep.
Three joint-agency teams carried out 15 offender checks at various locations throughout the county, according to the sheriff’s office.
See also: 2 men killed in Lake Worth Beach shooting
During one check, probation officers discovered two handguns and suspected crack cocaine. SLCSO SID detectives obtained a search warrant at a residence on N. 19th Street in Fort Pierce and recovered:
- A stolen Canik 9mm handgun (confirmed stolen from FPPD)
- A Ruger LCP .380 handgun
- Approximately 10 grams of crack cocaine
Eddie Daniels, 31, of Fort Pierce, was arrested for:
- Grand Theft Firearm
- Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon
- Possession of Ammunition by a Convicted Felon
- Possession of Cocaine
- Violation of Probation
Another team discovered a plastic bag containing multi-colored pills and a gray, rocklike substance suspected to be narcotics on Emil Avenue in Fort Pierce. SID detectives identified the substance as MDMA (Molly) and secured a search warrant. The search yielded:
- 8.5 ounces of cocaine
- 69 grams of MDMA
- 2 Oxycodone pills
- 3.5 pounds of marijuana
- Drug manufacturing equipment (beakers and glassware with cocaine residue)
- One AK-47 Drako firearm
- One Taurus TCP .380 handgun
- $11,867 in cash
Antonio Hernandez, 43, of Fort Pierce, was arrested for:
- Trafficking in Phenethylamines (MDMA)
- Possession of Cocaine
- Possession of Drug Paraphernalia
- Violation of Probation
Maria Thompson, 42, also of Fort Pierce, was arrested for:
“This operation underscores our commitment, alongside our local and state partners, to aggressively monitor individuals on probation and parole,” said Sheriff Richard Del Toro. “Our mission is clear: remove dangerous drugs, illegal guns, and repeat offenders from our neighborhoods, and make St. Lucie County the safest county in Florida.”
Find more ways to stay up to date with your latest local news. Sign up for our newsletter to get the day’s top headlines delivered right to your inbox. Subscribe to our YouTube channel for the biggest stories and can’t miss video.
