Walton man sentenced; WCSO says he hid fentanyl in patrol car during arrest

WALTON COUNTY, Fla. — A Freeport man who hid more than 30 grams of fentanyl in a Walton County Sheriff’s Office (WCSO) patrol car during his arrest has been sentenced to seven years in prison after pleading guilty to drug trafficking, the WCSO has announced.

According to the WCSO, Robert Seth Whittaker, 33, pleaded guilty to trafficking in fentanyl and possession of drug paraphernalia on January 4. He was sentenced to a mandatory term of seven years in the Florida Department of Corrections.

In February 2023, the WCSO VICE/Narcotics Unit executed a search warrant on Powerline Road in Freeport. Whittaker, who was on probation for drug charges, was arrested and transported to Walton County Jail.

Once at the jail, a cavity search was being conducted when a chunk of purple powder allegedly fell out of Whittaker’s anus. The powder was reportedly confirmed to be fentanyl.

According to the WCSO, information later obtained revealed Whittaker discarded a large quantity of fentanyl under the rear seat of the patrol car while being transported to jail.

The WCSO said car dash cam footage confirmed that, while handcuffed in the rear of the patrol car, Whittaker reached into the area of his buttocks, removed plastic bags, and then stuffed them in the area where the seat belt goes into the plastic molding of the seat.

The patrol car was immediately secured, searched, and found to contain approximately 30 grams of fentanyl under the rear seat once the seat had been removed, the WCSO said.

According to the WCSO, the plastic bags tore during the process, and loose fentanyl residue covered the area under the seat.

The spillage required the car to be out of service for nearly three months “until it could be professionally cleaned for the safety of the deputies and future arrestees who might be transported in the vehicle,” the WCSO said.

Whittaker was charged with trafficking in fentanyl, felony violation of probation, introduction of contraband into a jail facility, tampering with evidence, and possession of drug paraphernalia.