What started as a visit from a man’s probation officers, ended with the Citrus County Sheriff’s Office seizing close to $1 million in drugs and setting a record for the department on June 14. The arrest and subsequent raid at a Citrus Springs home began when Detective Mike Laborda stopped a red, 2011 Chevrolet Camaro when the driver, Ricky Lee Pope, 56, of Citrus Springs, didn’t stop at a stop sign on North Florida Avenue, outside of Dunnellon, according to arrest reports. Citrus County Sheriff Nets 24 Arrests in 2-Month Undercover Drug Bust. The Citrus County Sheriff’s Office claims it has been on the offense against drug trafficking for the past two months through a covert operation they call “Operation Coin Toss. Low 48F. Filed Under: Bucks County … A probation officer found illegal drugs, and a search warrant was obtained. The younger Pope said the drugs inside the box (next to his wallet, driver’s license and other identity documents), were not his, according to arrest reports. Citrus County Sheriff Mike Prendergast speaks to assembled media about the results of "Operation Coin Toss," a 2-month covert operation targeting drug trafficking in the county… Contact Chronicle reporter Fred Hiers at fred.hiers@chronicleonline.com or 352-397-5914. Odie soon alerted his handler that drugs were in the trunk, according to arrest records. That’s where deputies found an array of drugs and guns. The amount of fentanyl seized could have killed hundreds of people,” said Sheriff Mike Prendergast. Partly cloudy skies. CITRUS SPRINGS, Fla. - A search warrant resulted in an arrest after Citrus County deputies confiscated drugs, guns, and a stolen motorcycle and ATV, which belongs to state officials. 30 Arrested in 2nd Phase of Illegal Drug Operation in Citrus County By Spectrum News Staff Citrus County UPDATED 6:28 PM ET Nov. 19, 2019 PUBLISHED 2:22 … Confronted with the two pills, Ricky Lee Pope told deputies, “Those are just men’s pills for erections,” according to arrest records. Sheriff Prendergast points out how several chards of crystal meth are as big as his thumb while he and undercover deputies showed off the items seized during a late-morning drug bust. Citrus County detectives said Tuesday that Battisti is considered to be the “highest-level” drug dealer deputies have encountered since Citrus County Sheriff Mike Prendergast has been in office. Citrus County demolishes a home known for drugs and crime, and they say it’s a warning to those who don’t follow the laws. Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. This one bust alone takes approximately 250 doses of heroin off the streets and out of our community. Sheriff’s Office makes largest fetanyl, meth bust in county history On Jan. 20, the Citrus County Sheriff’s Office (CCSO) added another accomplishment into the history books by seizing 1.6 pounds of methamphetamine and 1.8 ounces of powdered fentanyl. Investigators searched two different homes last Friday. If you suspect illegal drug activity, please report it to us at (352)726-1121 or to Citrus County … As a result, posting of an arrest report may be delayed up to 72 hours after the arrest has been processed. Being a convicted felon, it violated Florida law to have the weapons in his home. Ocala Post - June 18, 2019. The Citrus Springs home is located at 2691 West Arbutus Drive. “As I have said before, if you deal drugs in Citrus County, I am coming after you with my team,” Prendergast said. “My office is committed to keeping our citizens safe from these deadly narcotics.”. By Jennifer Trovato Posted: 4/23/2014. This search yielded several items of drug paraphernalia, over an ounce of crystal methamphetamine, firearm ammunition, 2 stolen ATVs, and one stolen outboard motor. Citrus County Sheriff's Office makes biggest drug bust in county history, Man at center of largest meth, fentanyl bust charged again for tossing drugs in jail, Court Digest: Case of largest meth, fentanyl seizure set for trial, 4221 W Gulf To Lake Highway, Lecanto, FL 34461, 4951 W. Strawberry Lane, Homosassa, FL 34446, 206 W Dampier Street, Inverness, FL 34450, 2915 West Dunnellon Road, Dunnellon, FL 34433, 8445 W Homosassa Trail, Homosassa , FL 34448, 151 E Highland Boulevard, Inverness, FL 34450, 123 NW Highway 19 , Crystal River, FL 34428, 1070 N Suncoast Boulevard, Crystal River, FL 34429, 403 W Highland Blvd., Inverness, FL 34452, 5337 W Gulf to Lake Highway, Lecanto, FL 34461, 255 E Highland Boulevard, Inverness, FL 34452, 6604 W Gulf To Lake Highway, Crystal River, FL 34429, 1206 SE US Highway 19, Crystal River, FL 34429, 6373 S Suncoast Blvd, Homosassa, FL 34446, 4841 S Pleasant Grove Road, Inverness, FL 34452, 275 SE U.S. Highway 19, Crystal River, FL 34429, 9800 N Citrus Avenue, Crystal River, FL 34428, 1050 SE US Highway 19, Crystal River, FL 34429, 760 West Hampshire Boulevard, Citrus Springs, FL 34434, 669 NE US Highway 19, Crystal River, FL 34429, 390 N Suncoast Boulevard, Crystal River, FL 34429, 439 East Norvell Bryant Highway, Hernando, FL 34442, 2081 S Suncoast Blvd, Homosassa, FL 34448, 3075 S. Florida Avenue, Inverness, FL 34450, 685 E Gulf To Lake Hwy, Lecanto, FL 34461, 6677 W Gulf To Lake Highway, Crystal River, FL 34429, Florida Cancer Specialists & Research Institute, 770 SE 5th Terrace, Crystal River, FL 34429, 507 West Main Street , Inverness, FL 34450, 2424 N Heritage Oaks Path , Hernando, FL 34442, 9870 W Fort Island Trail, Crystal River, FL 34429. Chronicle reporter Fred Hiers at fred.hiers @ chronicleonline.com or 352-397-5914 dispatch-sponsored Imagination Library provides a free book each to! 131,000 off the streets, along with several firearms became part of that 6 when! Could have killed hundreds of people, ” said Sheriff Mike Prendergast to Lowndes County children under passenger! While continuing their search, TIU detectives located three loaded handguns, one which had been... Seat was Justin Derrick Minor Pope, 32, of 1571 E. Sheridan Lane, Hernando $ 6.50 $...., Laborda drug bust in citrus county that Pope ’ s history a free book each month to County! 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