Six people were arrested in Holly Hill late last week in a drug bust, the Volusia Sheriff's Office announced. The East Volusia Narcotics Task Force seized multiple types of illegal drugs at a house considered to be a nuisance address.
The house, a vacant home located at 618 Flomich Street, has been the subject of multiple calls from neighbors about drug activity and trespassing. The issue became a priority of the Holly Hill city government, who worked in tandem with the VSO to monitor the house. Eventually an undercover operation began, with deputies making controlled drug buys.
This investigation came to a head on Wednesday, when detectives arrested six suspects, mostly on narcotics charges. The biggest array of charges was leveled against 20-year-old Jahmall Collins, the man the VSO says is believed to have been the drug supplier.
Collins was charged with armed fentanyl trafficking, possession of a weapon/ammo by a convicted felon, resisting an officer nonviolently, possession of drug paraphernalia, driving with a suspended license, violation of probation, and attaching an unassigned tag. He was allegedly found with 24 grams of fentanyl, a Glock 17 9mm pistol, a .223 AR pistol, ammunition, and hundreds of dollars in cash.
44-year-old Paul Mellette Jr. was charged with the sale of fentanyl. 53-year-old James Stevens was charged with illegal carry of a concealed weapon. 52-year-old Sean Ramberg was charged with methamphetamine possession and drug paraphernalia possession. 48-year-old Clinton Golden was charged with fentanyl possession. 19-year-old Donathan Evans was charged with possession of methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia. All are Holly Hill residents except for Evans, who lives in Ormond Beach.
"I think we sent a message that we are not going to stand for this, and we're going to do our best to eradicate this type of behavior," said Sheriff Mike Chitwood about the sting.
"I just want to say that we will not stop until this issue is permanently resolved, and this house is reclaimed for our community so that it is safe again," added Holly Hill Mayor Chris Via.
The VSO also received assistance from the Ormond Beach Police Department, Holly Hill Police Department, Port Orange Police Department, City of Edgewater Police Department, and New Smyrna Beach Police Department.
