DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. - The Volusia Sheriff's Office has identified and charged a suspect in multiple overdose deaths in the Daytona Beach area. 29-year-old Shawn Adams, an accused drug dealer with four dozen prior felony charges, is the man the VSO is saying sold the drugs behind the deaths.
Adams most recently made news in August, when Chief Deputy Brian Henderson attempted to pull him over for speeding. The VSO said Adams, driving a Nissan Altima, fled the scene at a high speed on Ridgewood Ave near Holly Hill. Their report also indicated passengers were throwing drugs out the window of the car as they fled.
The car was tracked by helicopter, and eventually the occupants were arrested on Stocking Street in Daytona Beach. Adams had been convicted for fleeing or attempting to elude law enforcement five previous times in Volusia County at the time of the August incident.
This week in Daytona, VSO deputies surveilled Adams as he was allegedly conducting a drug deal on Terrace Ave. When deputies moved in to make the arrest, Adams reportedly tried to escape in a Cadillac SUV, leading to a collision with unmarked patrol cars. The sting ended in Adams' arrest. What was described as 'trafficking amounts' of fentanyl, methamphetamine, crack cocaine, and marijuana were recovered, as well as a loaded Glock .40 caliber handgun.
“We are going to continue to attack this crisis one drug dealer at a time, and this is just one more example of an arrest that will save lives,” Sheriff Mike Chitwood said of the arrest. “We also know that we can’t just arrest our way out of this as long as fentanyl keeps pouring into our country and community. With the combined efforts of the Overdose Task Force, the Volusia Recovery Alliance, and all our partners, we’re doing everything we can to prevent needless deaths and pain for so many families.”
