January 22, 2019
The job of a deputy sheriff is never routine. The night of
January 18th is a highlight of how things seem normal but can quickly
turn into a more significant investigation. Deputy Justin Arters observed a
vehicle violate a simple traffic law. The driver failed to make a complete stop
at a stop sign. Deputy Arters then attempted to stop the vehicle by activating his
emergency lights to signal the driver to stop which prompted the driver to
elude him.
The driver abruptly turned into a private drive and came to
a stop. Deputy Arters saw a tall black male hastily exit the passenger side of
the car and run from the scene. This person, whom we will call “the runner,”
left the driver to deal with the consequences.
Deputy Arters identified the driver as Rebecca Carter
(1-27-94) of Williston. Ms. Carter had a
valid driver’s license and was not wanted for any outstanding warrants.
However, Deputy Arters had already seen two guns in the floorboard, a clear
glass canister with a green leafy substance inside (it also had a marijuana
sticker on it) and a black box which had a plastic baggie hanging out of the
closed lid that contained a white powdery substance. With these “clues” Deputy
Arters began his follow up investigation.
Ms. Carter denied knowledge of a passenger and claimed
ownership of all items inside the car. Deputy Arters located and seized more
than he initially anticipated when he searched the car. The substance in the
glass jar was exactly what the sticker indicated it was, marijuana. The two
guns seen on the floor board were collected and determined to be a 9 MM and a
BB gun made to look like a modern firearm. The black box held used syringes, an
unidentified substance suspected to be Fentanyl and the white powder in the
baggie protruding from the lid was identified as heroin.
Deputy Arters searched further and located six more guns,
two shotguns (one was sawed off), three rifles and one BB rifle. An assortment
of ammunition and high capacity magazines (clips) was found in the same area of
the vehicle in which the guns were located.
Ms. Carter was arrested and transported to the Levy County
Detention Facility. She has been charged with trafficking in fentanyl
(positively identified with a presumptive test), possession of heroin with the
intent to distribute, possession of drug paraphernalia and possession of a
short barreled shotgun. She remains in custody in lieu of a $250,000.00 bond.
This investigation is currently on-going. Deputies expect
the “runner” will be identified in the near future and charges could be filed
at a later date. In the end, dangerous drugs and guns were removed from our
streets and our community can rest that much easier. Deputies patrol our
streets 24/7 and simple infractions such as this are not always routine.
