WALTON COUNTY, Fla. — A Fort Walton Beach man is among three busted in Walton County last week for allegedly trafficking drugs, including fentanyl. Two other men, both from Samson, Alabama, were also arrested on felony drug charges, the Walton County Sheriff’s Office (WCSO) said.
According to the WCSO, more than six pounds of methamphetamine, 800 pills containing fentanyl, and 82 grams of fentanyl were seized during two drug investigations in Walton County.
Two joint investigations between the WCSO Vice/Narcotics Unit, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE), and the DeFuniak Springs Police Department resulted in the arrest of the three men.
According to the WCSO, on February 7, the WCSO Vice/Narcotics Unit and FDLE members stopped Stephen Jakevious Stackhouse, 21, and Jaquez Lane, 28, both of Samson, Alabama, in Gaskin, Florida. Stackhouse was reportedly wanted on felony warrants stemming from the investigation into methamphetamine and fentanyl trafficking in Walton County.
WCSO K-9 “Kenny” was deployed and reportedly alerted to the presence of narcotics in the car driven by Mr. Stackhouse. After a search, investigators said they found more than 190 grams of methamphetamine, 371 fentanyl tablets, nearly 65 grams of marijuana, and a small amount of cocaine.
Also allegedly found inside the vehicle were two handguns and one AR-15 rifle. An inspection of the AR-15 is said to have revealed the weapon had been altered to fire fully automatic. All three weapons were loaded, said the WCSO.
Later that same day, Terrell Knox, 34, of Fort Walton Beach, was stopped by WCSO Vice/Narcotics Unit members and FDLE members in Miramar Beach. Mr. Knox was wanted on felony warrants for methamphetamine and fentanyl trafficking stemming from the investigation, the WCSO said.
K9 “Kenny” reportedly alerted to the presence of narcotics in Mr. Knox’s vehicle. After a search, investigators said they located approximately 448 grams of methamphetamine, 267 fentanyl tablets, and nearly 55 grams of powdered fentanyl.
“Every one of these pills and drugs represents death and pain for families in Walton County,” said Walton County Sheriff Michael Adkinson.
“These arrests represent the high-caliber investigations conducted by our VICE/Narcotics Unit. And while we may not get everybody, we’re going to continue to get anyone dealing this poison as fast as we can to prevent these drugs from hurting our communities,” Mr. Adkinson said.
According to the WCSO, the two investigations led to the seizure of three guns, a total of 2,740 grams (more than six pounds) of methamphetamine, 823 fentanyl tablets, 82 grams of powdered fentanyl, 126 grams of marijuana, and five grams of cocaine.
The WCSO said the three men were charged with the following:
Stephen Jakevious Stackhouse:
- Trafficking Fentanyl (three counts)
- Trafficking Methamphetamine (three counts)
- Unlawful use of a Two-Way Communication Device (two counts)
- Sale of Marijuana
- Sale of Cocaine
- Possession of Cocaine
- Possession of Marijuana over 20 grams
- Possession of a Weapon during the Commission of a first-degree Degree Felony
- Possession of a Machine Gun
Jaquez Lane:
- Trafficking Fentanyl
- Trafficking Methamphetamine
- Possession of a Weapon during the Commission of a first-degree Degree Felony
Terrell Knox:
- Trafficking Fentanyl (three counts)
- Trafficking Methamphetamine (three counts)
- Unlawful use of a Two-Way Communication Device (two counts)
