ST. JOHNS COUNTY, Fla. – A home in St. Johns County is well known to people who live near the intersection of Sanitorium Avenue and Hurst Street.
Last week, St. Johns County Sheriff’s Investigations Unit Detectives, SWAT, Task Force, K9, and St. Augustine Police Department detectives served a search warrant on the home after investigators said neighbors have been complaining for years.
Recommended Videos
“I know what is going on,” said Laniah Russell, 13. “First we saw all the police pull up. I did not think anything of it. Then they had a microphone talking about how someone had a warrant.”
The home is near a St. Augustine park, the recreation department and RJ Murray Middle School.
Investigators said a 42-year-old man at the home was found with 16 grams of crack cocaine, 78 grams of MDMA, 75 grams of powder cocaine, more than 100 grams of marijuana, a gun, scales, and jewelers’ baggies.
“There is a lot going on over at Woodlawn and there is something going on there with that,” said Russell, who got permission from her mother to speak to News4JAX.
Records from the St. Johns County officials say there have been 30 calls in three years in reference to the home. Everything from noise complaints, suspicious persons, and even a child abuse call. There have also been calls for overdoses.
News4JAX spoke with several people at the park and in the neighborhood who are happy to see the drugs off the street.
“We are losing a lot of people from these drugs,” said Russell.
Investigators said a minor was there when they made the arrest and said the man claimed all the drugs. Investigators said he could face decades in prison.
“I just try to stay away from that,” said Russell.
Jail records show that the man is booked on drug trafficking and gun possession charges, among other charges.
He is still in jail on a $300,000 bond.