FORT WALTON BEACH, Fla. — Two Fort Walton Beach men have been arrested after a drug task force raid early Tuesday morning reportedly uncovered a trafficking quantity of fentanyl, a rifle, and drug paraphernalia inside a home on Allen Drive.
The operation took place around dawn at 4 Allen Drive and was conducted by the Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office (OCSO) Multi-Agency Drug Task Force. The task force focuses on disrupting drug activity in Okaloosa County.
According to the OCSO, investigators executing the narcotics search warrant located a trafficking amount of fentanyl inside the residence, along with a rifle and items of drug paraphernalia.
Donald Herbst, 64, of Fort Walton Beach, is charged with trafficking fentanyl and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. He is said to have had prior felony convictions that made his possession of the rifle unlawful under Florida law.
Joseph Herbst, 36, also of Fort Walton Beach, was charged with possession of fentanyl.
Fentanyl continues to be a significant public safety concern in Okaloosa County and across Florida, with small quantities capable of causing fatal overdoses. Law enforcement agencies have prioritized fentanyl-related investigations due to the drug’s high potency and increasing presence in street-level narcotics.
The Multi-Agency Drug Task Force routinely collaborates to conduct targeted raids, investigations, and arrests associated with the distribution of dangerous drugs in the community. It includes personnel from the OCSO, Crestview Police Department, Fort Walton Beach Police Department, and Niceville Police Department.
The sheriff’s office has not released further details on whether additional arrests are expected or if the investigation remains ongoing.
