A Florida man was arrested for trafficking methamphetamine as Hurricane Idalia was barreling toward the sunshine state.
On Wednesday, August 30, 2023, Citrus County Sheriff’s Office (CCSO) deputies arrested 52-year-old Richard Garrett, Jr., of Lecanto for trafficking in methamphetamine.
CCSO received a call regarding a suspicious bag, containing what appeared to be narcotics and drug paraphernalia, being turned in to an employee at a local business.
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Upon arrival, deputies searched the bag, finding it to contain multiple cases and pouches of small clear plastic baggies weighing a total of approximately 65.2 grams of methamphetamine, a black digital scale with methamphetamine residue, a pink zipper pouch containing a glass pipe, and a green Barnett Bank zipper pouch containing 90 empty small clear plastic baggies.
A review of the security footage showed Garrett approaching the store on his bicycle with the blue book bag on his back before placing it in a shopping cart, which he was in sole possession of throughout his time in the store, until handing it to the employee, claiming he had found the bag.
Later that night, Garrett returned to the location to retrieve the bag, at which point he was taken into custody by CCSO deputies.
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“CCSO is dedicated to serving and protecting the citizens of Citrus County, even during a major hurricane. I am proud of my team for starting and finishing this investigation in a matter of hours, helping rid our streets of this deadly narcotic,” said Sheriff Mike Prendergast. “I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again – illicit narcotics are not welcome in Citrus County.
Dealers like Garrett have no regard for the law or the well-being of others, and I will not stand idly by while they peddle their poison in our community.”
He was charged with the following:
- One count of Trafficking in Methamphetamine
- One count of Possession of Paraphernalia.
Deputies say he is being held at the Citrus County Detention Facility on a $51,000.00 bond, per the bond schedule.
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