DEA, FDLE, St. Lucie County assist OCSO with drug bust

Posted 6/11/21

Narcotics Task force makes arrests.

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DEA, FDLE, St. Lucie County assist OCSO with drug bust

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OKEECHOBEE — On Thursday, June 10, at approximately 10 a.m., members of the Okeechobee Narcotics Task Force, Okeechobee County Sheriff’s Office Special Response Team and Canine unit executed a narcotic search warrant at the 800 block of N.E. 336th Street, within Okeechobee County with the assistance of the United States Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) PSL Resident Office, Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE), United States Customs and Border Protection Homeland Security and Saint Lucie County Sheriff’s Office Canine unit.

Upon arrival to the search warrant location, law enforcement encountered three individuals, who were identified as Robert Koff, Jr., 35, Danielle Harmon, 35, and Ynez Gonzalez, 30, parked waiting in a truck in front of the residence.

During the execution of the search warrant members of SRT located a trap door, which led beneath the mobile home. Eliceo Mendoza, 36, and Thomas McGill, 40, were located beneath the mobile home by an Okeechobee County Sheriff’s Office K-9. They both were taken into custody and arrested. Mendoza had an outstanding Okeechobee County arrest warrant for aggravated assault with a firearm and multiple probable cause narcotic charges for sale of methamphetamine and possession of methamphetamine with intent to sell.

He was then charged and arrested for possession of methamphetamine and transported to the Okeechobee County Jail for booking. His bond was set at $5,000.

The methamphetamine was collected and turned into the Okeechobee County Sheriff’s Office as evidence.

During a search of the residence the following items were located:
• A Kimber 9MM pistol S/N BHYA492, located in a safe inside the residence, reported stolen out of Okeechobee (See Case # 21S06177),
• Numerous collector coins throughout the residence and shed,
• A bolt action rifle, located in the shed,
• A tube with suspected methamphetamine residue in the shed,
• A bag with less than a gram of suspected cocaine in the shed (field tested positive for cocaine),
• 3.4 grams of suspected methamphetamine in the shed (Later field tested and showed a positive result for methamphetamine),

• A gas canister cut in half, located in the shed,
• Numerous pistols and ammunition throughout the residence and shed,
• Suspected marijuana less than 5 grams,
• A shotgun with the stock and barrel cut down,
• Numerous cell phones,
• 3.3 grams of suspected methamphetamine in the living room (later field tested and showed a positive result for methamphetamine),
• Numerous containers and false containers with suspected methamphetamine residue throughout the residence and shed,
• Suspected cutting agent (white crystal-like substance),
• Vacuum sealer and vacuum sealed bags with methamphetamine residue,
• Numerous scales throughout the residence and shed with methamphetamine residue, and,
• Two pills on the living room coffee table, identified as Lorazepam by Drugs.com as schedule drug, which requires a prescription.

Saint Lucie County Office K-9  conducted an exterior free air sniff of the Dodge and his K-9 alerted to the Dodge truck.

A search of the vehicle was conducted.

A locked safe was found on the rear passenger floor board and the key to the safe was on the key ring to the Dodge. The safe contained numerous syringes, drug paraphernalia, a prescription pill bottle with Koff’s name on it, a scale with suspected methamphetamine residue which did show a positive field test result for methamphetamine, approximately one gram of suspected Fentanyl which showed a positive field test result for Fentanyl, and numerous rounds of live ammunition.

A partially broken glass pipe was found  on the driver side rear floorboard with suspected methamphetamine residue which did show a positive field test result for methamphetamine.

Gonzalez was searched by a female Detective. A glass pipe with suspected methamphetamine residue was located in her pocket. The pipe was field tested and showed a positive result for methamphetamine.

Mendoza was arrested  on  his outstanding warrant. He was also charged with possession of methamphetamine with intent to sell, possession of cocaine; grand theft of a firearm; possession of a Lorazepam, a controlled substance; resisting arrest without violence; and, possession of drug paraphernalia. Bond was set at $61,000.

Koff was arrested and charged with possession of methamphetamine, possession of fentanyl, possession of ammo by a convicted felon, and possession of drug paraphernalia. Bond was set at $26,000.

Mcgill was arrested and charged with resisting arrest without violence. Bond was set at $1,000.

Gonzalez was arrested and charged with possession of methamphetamine and possession of drug paraphernalia.  Bond was set at $6,000.

Harmon was transported to Okeechobee County Jail and upon arrival, a glass pipe and syringe were found in her vaginal area. Harmon was asked if she had anything concealed on her person before being transported and she said no. The glass pipe  tested positive for methamphetamine.  Harmon was arrested and charged with  possession of methamphetamine, introducing contraband into a correctional facility and  misdemeanor possession of drug paraphernalia. Her total bond was set at $16,000.

OCSO, law enforcement, drug, arrests

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