JACKSONVILLE BEACH, Fla. – The Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office on Thursday announced the arrests of numerous people on drug charges, and the seizure of firearms from an Airbnb in Jacksonville Beach.
On Sunday, JSO said, the Community Problem Response Unit was deployed in Duval County under the violence reduction strategy. Investigators said detectives were monitoring the Airbnb after receiving information that people who were tied to a criminal gang were staying there. Police said they also received several calls for information regarding narcotics and firearms at the residence.
“Cars up and down both sides of the street. They would congregate in the yard and be really loud with their radios booming, coming and going and just really loud,” a resident of the neighborhood said.
During surveillance, JSO said, detectives saw several people walking around the outside of the residence armed with “assault-style rifles.” Police said at least one person had an active arrest warrant.
Jacksonville Beach police knocked on the door, the Sheriff’s Office said, and at least two people were seen running from the residence through the backyard, throwing firearms over a fence. Five individuals initially exited the residence, and more than 40 more would come out a short time later, JSO said.
“It was crazy. It was scary,” another resident of the neighborhood told News4JAX. “I’ve never seen anything like that on the beach and I grew up here.”
Numerous arrests were made for charges stemming from drugs located in and around the residence as well as for prior warrants. A search warrant for the residence was also obtained and was executed. A total of 14 guns were confiscated.
An Airbnb spokesperson sent News4JAX the following statement:
“We take this situation very seriously and have no tolerance for this type of reported criminal activity. The booking guests associated with this incident have been removed from our platform and we are in contact with the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office to support their investigation.”