MEDIA RELEASE
Date: October 19, 2012
Time: 3:00 PM
On October 18, 2012, the Levy County Sheriff's Office and the US Marshals Service Florida Regional Fugitive Task Force arrested Julian Christopher Howard and Arnett Clarence Bryant Jr. in Raleigh, Fl.
The Levy County Sheriff's Office Drug Task Force began the investigation in February 2012. Howard is considered to be a mid level drug dealer in the Raleigh area. Howard is known to sale crack cocaine, powder cocaine and marijuana. The first phase of the investigation was concluded but other arrest is expected.
On September 27, 2012, a warrant was signed for Howard and charges included sale of crack cocaine, possession of crack cocaine and unlawful use of a two-way communication device. Howard went on the run but his luck ran out last night. Members of the Drug Task Force and the Florida Regional Fugitive Task Force did a surveillance at 8384 NE 190 Ave and walked miles in order to arrest a violent fugitive. Howard was located at the residence and he was doing what he does best, which is selling narcotics. Members of the Task Force were only a few feet away when the men were making drug deals and had no idea that there freedom was coming to an end. The Task Force members reverted to they're training when dealing with felony offenders and ordered the men out of the vehicle at gunpoint. The suspects complied and the arrest went without incident.
Major Evan Sullivan stated "The arrest was successful due to the element of surprise, great strategic planning and the willingness of the members to go the extra mile". "Two drug dealers have been removed from the streets".
Howard was arrested on the Levy County Fugitive warrant and was also charged with additional charges. When Howard was sitting in the vehicle he had in his lap 5.6 grams of crack cocaine and 6/10 of a gram of powder cocaine. Bryant had 2 grams of crack cocaine and 2.7 grams of marijuana in his lap.
Howard and Bryant are convicted felons and they are no strangers to law enforcement. Howard has extensive criminal history as a juvenile and an adult. Howard has been arrested for cocaine, battery on a police officer, robbery, weapons charges and homicide. Bryant has been convicted for domestic battery, child neglect, resisting arrest and has been arrested nineteen (19) times for felony charges and nine (9) misdemeanor charges.
The Levy County Drug Task Force agents have submitted and arrested ninety-two wanted fugitives to the US Marshals Florida Regional Fugitive Task Force this year. Major Sullivan explained that once a Levy County case has been adopted by the US Marshals Service the federal Task Force will pay the overtime accrued by Levy County deputies. Major Sullivan stated, "In economic lean times this Task Force has been a God Send". "It has saved Levy County taxpayers thousands of dollars in overtime".
Defendants:
Julian Christopher Howard
11528 SW 169th Way
Archer, Fl
B/M, 05/24/1980
Arnett Clarence Bryant Jr.
16015 SW 133RD Lane
Archer, Fl
B/M, 08/08/1983
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Major Evan Sullivan
Levy County Sheriff's Office
FBI-National Academy 183rd Session
Office: 352-486-5446
Cell: 352-577-4218