FORT WALTON BEACH — The Fort Walton Beach Police Department seized more than 129 grams of fentanyl last week following a tip from Emerald Coast Crime Stoppers, authorities said.
Officers responded to a call at 209 Miracle Strip Parkway late Tuesday night, where they encountered four adults in a motel room, according to a news release from the Fort Walton Beach Police Department. The occupants allowed officers inside, where narcotics and hypodermic needles were in plain view.
Investigators with the department’s Special Investigations Unit obtained a search warrant for the room. While waiting for the warrant to be approved, one suspect attempted to escape by leaping from the second-story breezeway and was quickly apprehended, police said.
A second suspect fled on foot and was taken into custody after a brief struggle, during which an officer suffered a minor injury, according to the release.
After executing the search warrant, officers recovered more than 129 grams of fentanyl, along with methamphetamine, cocaine and drug paraphernalia. The police say the amount of fentanyl seized was enough for 6,000 fatal doses.
Police said two Fort Walton Beach residents, Naomi Cantell, 28, and Azzie McClendon, 32, were arrested and charged with providing false information to law enforcement, possession of drug paraphernalia, possession of a controlled substance and trafficking of fentanyl.
“The Fort Walton Beach Police Department is fully committed to eradicating fentanyl from our streets through proactive enforcement efforts, partnerships with local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies, and continued collaboration with the community,” the department stated in the release.
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In addition to enforcement, the department also focuses on intervention and recovery support through programs such as the Post Overdose Support Team, which assists individuals struggling with addiction, the release said.
“This case is a testament to the power of community partnerships,” Police Chief Robert Bage said in the release. “With the help of Emerald Coast Crime Stoppers and concerned citizens, we were able to remove a deadly amount of fentanyl from our streets. Every tip, every partnership, and every proactive effort brings us one step closer to ending the opioid epidemic.”
Police encourage residents to report illegal drug activity anonymously through Emerald Coast Crime Stoppers at 850-863-TIPS (8477) or online at www.emeraldcoastcrimestoppers.com.
This article originally appeared on Northwest Florida Daily News: Fort Walton Beach Police seize 129 grams of fentanyl
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