Palm Coast, FL - The victim of a shooting incident on Tuesday was arrested on Wednesday night after the Flagler County Sheriff's Office and SWAT executed a search warrant and discovered he was running a drug house.
Sheriff Rick Staly was on scene as members of the FCSO Special Investigations Unit and a swat team executed a narcotics search warrant just before 8 PM on April 5 at 31 Bird of Paradise Dr in Palm Coast. Wilbert Hough, 31, of 162 B Plainview Dr in Palm Coast was arrested. That address was the scene of Tuesday morning's shooting where several shots were fired into the home. No one was hurt during that shooting.
After the shooting Sheriff Staly organized a team to investigate. They identified Hough, who was the victim in that case, as a suspected drug dealer. The investigation led them to 31 Bird of Paradise Dr.
"This was a great team effort by patrol, SWAT, and our Special Investigations Unit. I directed the team to focus on the suspect who in this case was our alleged 'victim' who [through] drug dealing activity was the cause for [the] Tuesday neighborhood shooting," said Sheriff Staly. "If you peddle poison in our community, are involved in gangs, or use guns in your crimes, we are coming after you. Get out of our county or go to jail."
During the search, investigators found and seized 10.4 grams of marijuana, 1 ounce of suspected MDMA, packaging supplies, a scale, and $1,120 in cash. Hough has several prior arrests for narcotics charges, fraud, trespassing, burglary, grand theft, and dealing in stolen property. At the time of Wednesday's arrest, he was out on bail for other charges. He was brought to the Flagler County Jail where he will be held until his court appearance, which is scheduled for Thursday morning.
(Hough's mugshot courtesy Flagler County Detention Facility)
For the story on Tuesday's shooting, click here. Copyright Southern Stone Communications 2017.
