She was part of the staff at the New Orleans Times-Picayune that in 2005 won two Pulitzer Prizes for coverage of Hurricane Katrina. false On Wednesday, Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody announced the arrest of a massive violent gang operation in Florida linked to a Mexican drug cartel, WESH reported. Agents of the Sheriffs Department, the U.S. CustomsService and the Florida Marine Patrol culminated amonth-long investigation at 4 a.m., seizing three boats,three trucks and a gold Cadillac. One of the bales hadapparentlybroken open, one officer said, and had been patched with a Colombian newspaper. Detectives also found more $1,700 in cash, a handgun, and what appeared to be a pipe bomb, to which the Sheriff's Office Bomb Squad responded. One asshole in particular kept spinning the cylinder of his shiny .45 Colt revolver and making up things to accuse me of. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. FDOT Gives Update on Project's Progress, Credit Card Balances Reach New Record High. it wasnt long before she was racking up drug busts. At the 11th avenue location, detectives found Marijuana, Oxycontin, crack cocaine, drug paraphernalia and another handgun. Police arrested 100 suspects and seized enough drugs to wipe out a large county. Rickie Santiago Pacheco, 23, faces charges of carrying a concealed firearm without a license, possessing a firearm while committing a felony, possession of marijuana with intent to sell, possession of drug paraphernalia, contributing to the delinquency of a minor and interfering with the custody of a minor. Some of the many boats confiscated during the smuggling days and their captured loads are shown below. Other charges, such as possession of a concealed weapon by several defendants, were pending. Because of that the cops got a tip off that there was an pot unloading operation going on. These werent Saturday night specials, the deputy, said. ; Ralph Jesus Valdez, 37, No. The amount of opiates seized were "enough to kill every single resident of Brevard County," which has an estimated population of about 590,000 people, according to police. Other than those listed previously, also arrested were: Vincente Jose Martinez, 36, 3817 Northside Ct.; Antonio Sanchez, 54, 1803 Atlantic Blvd. Deputies say her Toyota Camry had expired tags and that Coral then alerted to drugs in the car. The three alleged organizational leaders were identified as Brandon Huff, 35, and Jonathan Walker, 42, both of Cocoa, and Megan Wilborn, 31, of Merritt Island. 0 WebA major drug operation in the Keys was disrupted Friday, leading to the arrest of six people on multiple drug-related charges. Turn on desktop notifications for breaking stories about interest? Because the defendants were charged in federal court instead Circuit Court, Customs took the marijuana to Miami saving the sheriffs department the burden of storing it. Two men and a woman were arrested on multiple drug violations. Two teenage boys, ages 15 and 17, were sitting in the backseat. And as frantic efforts were being made to reach U.S. Magistrate Jack Saunders to arrange a bond hearing, Sheriff William A. Freeman Jr. fretted, Where the hell am going to put them? Freemans already over-crowded jail became even more cramped when inmates destroyed Cell Block 2 during a disturbance Wednesday night. A major drug operation in the Keys was disrupted Friday, leading to the arrest of six people on multiple drug-related charges. - A major drug bust led deputies to 120 gallons of liquid meth being transported in buckets by suspects from Georgia to Florida, overseen by a "mastermind" who ran the operation from federal prison, officials said Thursday. Galvan returned from Cuba aboard the Blanchie III and was the first Cuban-American to announce that Cuba had opened the harbor to the Freedom Flotilla. These people were very organized and were selling lots of drugs, he said. The suspects were identified by authorities as Misty Marie Howard, 39, of Big Pine Key, who had a warrant for trafficking in heroin, trafficking in methamphetamines and possession of a controlled substance. mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; Courtesy U.S. Coast Guard Last week the U.S. Coast Guard seized what it They were too many of them and they were too obvious. mso-pagination:widow-orphan; The two closed body trucks, both painted white, were former Sears vehicles, authorities said. Its coming from Cuba, weather forecasters say, Body found floating in channel off Key West, Monroe County Sheriffs Office says, A coconut tree farm caught fire in South Miami-Dade. and help keep the future of New Times, Use of this website constitutes acceptance of our. 29 out of 31 is a pretty good scorefor only 5 men against 32 armed smugglers! Amanda Batchelor, Digital Executive Producer. Amanda Batchelor, Digital Executive Producer. Its coming from Cuba, weather forecasters say, Body found floating in channel off Key West, Monroe County Sheriffs Office says, A coconut tree farm caught fire in South Miami-Dade. He plans to break records, These Florida spots, one in the Keys, made the best beaches list. WebDeputies arrested a 46-year-old Key West woman on multiple drug charges after a traffic stop on Big Pine Key yielded a litany of pills, FLORIDA KEYS. During the wait, the lobby at the department filled with relatives, friends of the arrested men and interested on-lookers. pic.twitter.com/ih10AhQAlx. font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; "We have seen our seizures in Flagler County is up over 500 percent so far this year compared to all of last year," Flagler County Sheriff Rick Staly said. WebIn all, 30 people were charged in U.S. District Court with drug trafficking. Miami, FL 33141 "Twenty-four suspects were arrested but one gang member remains at large: 39-year-old Efren Berumen from Kissimmee, Florida. Authorities said Bell was driving the Lexus and Dyer was the passenger. Copyright 2023 Local10.com is published by WPLG INC., a Berkshire Hathaway company. Deputy Megan Faison wrote in her report that she asked a 22-year-old female passenger in the front seat to roll her window all the way down so he could safely look inside the car, since it had dark tinted windows. The attorney general says cartels only care about profit and power. The only things of note toever happen here was the Spanish landing in the 1600s, the burningdown of the Big Pine Inn in the 1970 and the Big Pine29 Bust in 1980. A A. MARATHON, Fla. Two Marathon men are facing multiple drug charged, including trafficking in fentanyl, after a Monroe County Sheriff K9 Authorities said additional deputies were called to the scene along with K9 Coral, who alerted them to drugs in the Lexus and BMW. Chief Patrol Agent Walter N. Slosar confirmed that agents have responded to numerous drug wash-ups since the start of the month, seizing about 27 pounds of marijuana and three pounds of cocaine. Ingesting as little as 0.25 milligrams can be fatal. Theyre accused of selling crack Good Samaritans found the drugs & notified authorities. WebMarathon couple charged with possession in drug bust. A Key West woman faces drug trafficking and possession charges after a bust that was assisted by K9 cop Coral, the Monroe County Sheriffs Office says. Newsroom: (305) 795-2777. 24/7 coverage of breaking news and live events. Deputies ran a check on their names and found out they were runaways from Dade, Faison said. At age 71, this Florida Keys man is working steady in the drug-dealing game, police say. table.MsoNormalTable Miami's independent source of Become a member to support the independent voice of South Florida Copyright 2023 NBCUniversal Media, LLC. All rights reserved. The individual noticed a large black bundle wrapped in tape & contacted local authorities. Among the arrested: Domingo F. Galvan, 44, a registered nurse at Key Wests tiny DePoo Memorial Hospital. font-size:11.0pt; Everyones a good friend or family of a number ofpeople. Sheriff William A. Freeman said of thesuspects, who were greeted by about 40 red-eyedrelatives at the Monroe County jail as they were booked. See what the rescue teams saw, Retired Navy officer enters Florida Keys undersea lodge. Geiger Key Resident: Jamardo, 10 Egret Lane, Key West Residents: Francisco Hernandez, 3000 Flagler Ave.Antonio Hernandez, 1803 Atlantic Blvd.Sergio Galvan, 373E Paula St.Domingo Galvan, 1612 United St.Richard Allen Shank, 3533 Flagler Ave.Manuel Sanchez, 1122 Watson St.Antonio Sanchez, 1803 Atlantic Blvd. All rights reserved, What's With the Construction on I-95 in Broward? line-height:115%; The 29s lawyer knew about the smuggle. The woman in the front seat was not arrested, nor was the 15-year-old. Web2:09 PM EST, Wed February 24, 2021. Authorities said several rolled bills containing a powdery substance that field-tested positive for methamphetamines were found inside of the BMW. KEY WEST, Fla. A Key West woman faces methamphetamine trafficking and other drug charges after a bust that was assisted by K9 cop Coral, the Monroe County Sheriffs Office says. WFTV Detectives said the organization Colonel Rick Ramsay, who was there when the searches were conducted, said this was a large drug sales operation. Reed Bryan Bell, 55, of Islamorada, was also arrested on a charge of possession of a controlled substance and Markus Dyer, 31, of Big Pine Key, was arrested on charges of trafficking in heroin, trafficking in methamphetamines, possession of cocaine, possession of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia. local news and culture, The #Florida @USCG Cutter Valiant took down a narco sub carrying 12k lbs of cocaine in the #EasternPacific, cutting approximately $165 mil from smuggler pockets.More info and photos here: https://t.co/mSb28nTIzF pic.twitter.com/hS5kRVtV3f, Someone was dreaming of a white ChristmasApproximately 74 lbs of cocaine was found by a fisherman about 15 miles offshore and south of Sugarloaf Key in federal waters.All packages were turned over to the U.S. Border Patrol. He plans to break records, These Florida spots, one in the Keys, made the best beaches list. Gwen Filosa covers Key West and the Lower Florida Keys for FLKeysNews.com and the Miami Herald and lives in Key West. Dyer was found in possession of the following, according to deputies: Deputies said Bell was found to be in possession of three grams of MDMA/ecstasy and a metal pipe. She graduated from Indiana University. As the Marine Patrol or Customs would be speeding to intercept a pot boat the people on the pot boat would throw the bales off as fast as they could, trying to get rid of the evidence. The pot that came from a square grouper was called sea weed. Police in Florida issued arrest warrants for over 100 members of a suspected drug gang on Wednesday and seized enough fentanyl to wipe out a large county. Both vehicles were pulled over between Mile Markers 32 and 33. Drug smuggling really took hold and changed lifestyles in the Florida Keys in the 1970s and 80s. 29. Thompson said the 4 a.m. drug bust culminated a four week investigation involving members of the Marathon sheriffs sub-station, U.S. Customs and the Marine Patrol. 4 Sloans Trailer ParkJuan Manuel Venegas, 29, 837 Eighth Ave.Fisherman Michael Patrick OBrien, 22, 216 LincolnGardens. ), Car dealership workers kidnapped, tortured in armed robbery: police, Woman buys new tires that turn out to be 9 years old. #breakingnews #florida. Keys woman facing numerous drug counts after pot smell leads to pills, cocaine. If you need help with the Public File, call (954) 364-2526. Square Grouper is not an un-hip fish. Same as you, waiting, the agent responded. In addition to charges of possession of more than 2,000 pounds of marijuana trafficking and conspiracy to deliver a controlled substance, which were filed against all 30 defendants, charges of carrying concealed weapons were still pending against several of the men. false Detectives said the organization was obtaining large quantities of drugs from overseas and distributing them throughout Brevard County, which is about 50 miles east of Orlando. The men were in the process of bonding out late Saturday. He said he knew the older boy was missing, but not the younger teen, Faison said. The suspects were identified by authorities as Misty Marie Howard, 39, of Big Pine Key, who had a warrant for trafficking {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; Real-time updates and all local stories you want right in the palm of your hand. Drugs seized by the U.S. Border Patrol in Monroe County. Horace Calhoun, Clarence Moore, Jr. and Shamichael Johnson were all at the apartment and taken into custody. Its like a big family reunion with five or sixfamilies, said another officer, gazing at the crowd ofkin that included two defendants in this yearscelebrated Key West Cop Case. Monroe County Sheriffs Office deputies were praising K9 Coral on Tuesday. Nearly $80,000 worth of drugs discovered along the coastline in the #FloridaKeys since start of May. If you need help with the Public File, call (954) 364-2526. Monroe County Sheriff's Office reports the Sheriff's If you have any information about Berumen and if you know of his whereabouts, please call FDLE," Special Agent in Charge Eli Lawson said. Box 713Fisherman Greg Collazo, 25, Gulf Crain HamitFisherman Bernardo Lewis Valiente, 25, 300 East 63rdSt. Dade County residents arrested were: Orlando Vidal Maldonado, 42, 1265 W. Fourth LaneNestor Fernandez, 30, 4572 SW 127th Ct.Coral Fish Market owner Raul Hernandez, 44, 3811 SW88th PlaceRolando Aguiar, 30, 4132 SW 102nd CourtCatalino Rioseco Chambrot, 35, 10351 SW 56th St.Angel Cruz, 29, 2421 SW 129th Ave.Fisherman Carmelo Fernandez, 28, 5472 SW 127th Ct. I hoped I could talk my way out of there. Hes in county jail on Stock Island, and his bond information was not immediately available. 1401 79th Street Causeway WebDrugs seized by the U.S. Border Patrol in Monroe County. A massive drug bust has placed a dozen people behind bars after a drug home in New Smyrna Beach has been on deputies radar for months, they say. mso-style-priority:99; I was with him almost every day during that time and knew the full cast of characters. These Valuable Pennies Are Worth Thousands, Miami-Dade Mayor, State Attorney Announce New Measures to Protect HOA Residents, Teen in Vicious Attack on Florida Teacher's Aide to Be Charged as Adult, Given $1M Bond, Ex-UM Football Player Accused of Killing Teammate Granted $850K Bond. MONROE COUNTY, Fla. Within just five days, nearly $80,000 worth of drugs have been discovered along the coastline in the Florida Keys, the U.S. Border Patrol in Miami announced Thursday. Tipsters may remain anonymous. RELATED: What is rainbow fentanyl? This page is compiled mostly from Major Seals scrapbook that he wasgraciousenough to share with us. Normal WebEnough fentanyl seized to kill half of Florida; 'massive' bust linked to a Mexican drug cartel: AG By Gail Paschall-Brown, WESH , CNNWire Friday, October 14, 2022 ~Editor. The guns ranged from .45 caliber automatics to .25 calibre automatics. We didnt fire a single shot, a Customs agent said. The canine deputy joined the department about three months ago and on Monday she caught yet another suspected drug dealer. He didnt. I never heard about any girlfriend of the lawyers disappearing as another other rumor that is floating thirty years later claims. The driver was a 43-year-old man from Miami. mso-para-margin-right:0in; He said then that he had gone to get his brother Sergio, 40. On March 21. A detour to the Customs incinerators in Miami is probable. mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; WebOver the years, illegal drugs lots of them have been seized or discovered off Florida's shorelines. The presence of the Sooth Carolina man led officials to speculate that that was the destination of the contraband. WSVN broadcast educational and informational programming for children, and file quarterly reports with the FCC detailing the station's outreach to children. So the cartels in Mexico are very good about marketing," Staly said. And a Monroe County commissioner and well-known Florida Keys businessman has died after a battle with COVID-19, friends confirmed. A traffic stop on a Mercedes Benz driving with no lights on early Friday morning turned into a much bigger deal for the driver after Florida Keys deputies said they found a large amount of marijuana, two guns and two runaways from Miami-Dade County in the car. Staly adds there are a lot of undercover operations in the county and you will eventually get caught. Deputies said they found Alvarez-Bermudez in possession of 22.7 grams of cocaine more than three-quarters of an ounce along with $10,182 cash they suspect came from illicit drug sales. Danielle2.5 Tons Pot250,000 Quaaludes1979, Officers Mark Walker and Doug Smith Sugarloaf Key 1980. Letters to the editor with pictures since 2002. mso-para-margin-left:0in; Pacheco told cops the gun belonged to the 17-year-old, who was also arrested and turned over to juvenile justice authorities, Adam Linhardt, sheriffs office spokesman, said. For more information on this site, please read our Privacy Policy, and Terms of Service. Nelson (Ping-Ping) Jamarado, 41, the wiry, bearded former boat mechanic who early this year bought a share of Bevis-Lewis Chevrolet Inc. of Key West. Colorful pills drive new warnings about deadliest drug in the US. mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; Slosar said Good Samaritans stumbled upon the drugs and notified authorities. It was a routine bust.. 5 Sunshine St., Stock Island; Orlando Vidal Maldonado, 42, Miami; Norman Lee Young, 30, Hilton Head, S.C.; Sergio Edward Galvan, 40, 3738 Paula Ave.; Richard Allen Shank, 31, 3533 Flagler Ave., route man for Pepsi Cola Miami; Mitchell Earl Noa, 22, Big Pine Key; Carmen Fernandez, 28, Miami, listed employer as Two Friends Inc, Co.; Enrique Blasco, 19, Laird St.; Raul Hernandez Miami, listed as owner Coral Fish Co., Miami; Edward Ronan, 57, Tarpon Lodge, Marathon; Rafael Francisco Lopez, Marathon; Rolando Aguiar 30, Miami; Bernardo L Valiente, 25, Marathon, Michael Patrick OBrien, 216 Lincoln Gardens, Stock Island; Fermin Tapia, 41, Jamaica Dr. (city directory lists same address on P. Avenue as given to authorities by Sergio Galvan); G. Collazo, 25, Marathon; Jose Morzon Garcia, 44, 29, Key West Villas, listed employer as Two Friends Inc, Co.; Catalino Rios Chambrot, 35, Miami; Richard Lee Mungin, 37, Sloan Trailer Park, Stock Island; Angel Cruz, 27, Miami; Juano Manuel Venegas, A37 8th Ave., Stock Island. WebNo. Real-time updates and all local stories you want right in the palm of your hand. This story was originally published May 22, 2020, 8:40 PM. Whats that smell in the Florida Keys? EN-US A man in a smaller boat could clear maybe $40,000. FLAGLER COUNTY, Fla. -- A traffic stop involving James Forbes Jr. happened just before 9 p.m. Tuesday night while riding a bike on Palm Avenue in Bunnell. With this operation, we are making a significant dent in the sales of illegal drugs on Stock Island.. Harry, what you doing here? the other man queried. mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} According to authorities, deputies spotted Howard driving a black BMW south on U.S. 1 around 2:40 p.m. Monday. Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. "Arrest warrants were issued for each of the 100 suspects who have been identified throughout the course of the investigation as sources or distributors of these deadly drugs," the sheriff's office said in a statement. Whats that smell in the Florida Keys? Tawana Blackman and Leroy Lawson were arrested at that location. Sergio Galvan was arrested Saturday, too. WSVN-TVSunbeam Television Corp The most famous of these were the Big Coppitt cowboys, a lose group of guys with fast boats and police scanners. mso-style-parent:""; Amanda Batchelor is the Digital Executive Producer for Local10.com. The addresses for those named earlier are Jamardo, Geiger Key; F. Remand 3000 Flagler Ave.; A. Hernandez, 1603 Atlantic Blvd; Sanchez, 1122 Watson St; D. Galvan, 1612 United St. Several larger weapons were found in the car and in the area. A drug bust in Florida led to the seizure of enough fentanyl to kill at least 500,000 people, according to the Brevard County Sheriff's Office. The public may view the reports by going to WSVN.com and clicking on "FCC Public File", or by visiting the FCC's website at FCC.org. The long process known as coking in police language continued into the evening hours Saturday at the Monroe County Sheriffs Department 30 men rounded up during a pre-dawn marijuana bust were being questioned by officials. Coral joined the Monroe County Sheriffs Office this past fall, and it wasnt long before she was racking up drug busts. Inside the bag, deputies found 37 liquid marijuana cartridges used for vaping. Bert Thompson waited for a list of the names of those arrested and the charges to be filed. Fentanyl, often used to lace other drugs, is considered the deadliest drug in America, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Dealers are also disguising the drugs to look like candy. Coral the K9 helped catch two suspected drug traffickers in the Florida Keys on Monday. In all, 30 people were charged in U.S. District Courtwith drug trafficking. CAKEGATE 2023: Bad Bunny's Restaurant Accused of Gobbling Birthday Girl's Cake, Neighborhood Nazi Jon Minadeo Peddles Hate by the Minute, Affordable New "Micro-Units" Slated for Little River, Edgewater, Sen. Rubio's Permanent Daylight Savings Bill Sees Light of Day Once More, NFL Legend Ray Lewis Joins World Jai-Alai League Board of Directors. Monroe County Sheriff's Office reports the Sheriff's detectives and the Special Weapons and Tactics Team gathered information for over a month's time, leading them to serve two search warrants simultaneously--- one on 2nd street and one on 11th avenue in Stock Island. ; Paco Novalas, 23, 221 Stock Island Apts. Miami was snubbed, Florida Keys firefighter arrested after deputies say she beat her wife outside a bar, Human smuggling, a truck and a school bus: A Broward child rapist goes back behind bars. What we're seeing, for example, just two months ago, we ceased purple fentanyl. Authorities say they then found the following in the Camry: In addition to the trafficking charge, Gesell also faces charges of possession of cocaine, possession of marijuana, possession of a controlled substance (pills) without a prescription and possession of drug paraphernalia. Brandy Victoria Gesell, 38, was arrested after a traffic stop Thursday night on Big Pine Key. mso-para-margin-top:0in; "They're also making counterfeit pills that, they're multiple colors laced with fentanyl, so they're marketing to younger and younger people," Staly said. The 104 arrest warrants concluded a months-long investigation by the Brevard County Sheriff's Office into an organization suspected of "distributing kilogram quantities" of heroin, methamphetamine and fentanyl -- a synthetic opioid that can be up to 100 times more powerful than morphine, police said. "I been to the border twice, so I saw how it's coming in. Robert Brown, a convicted felon, along with bust a woman for drug possession in the Florida Keys. The tension and violence in the air was awful for a hippy like me. The 30 suspects surrendered peacefully. (The-CNN-Wire & 2022 Cable News Network, Inc., a Time Warner Company. Traffic stop results in drug bust. WebTwo men and a woman were arrested on multiple drug violations. WebPolice in the Florida Keys arrested two men this week after discovering large amounts of cash, drugs, and illegally harvested lobsters in their vehicle. They will be turned over to the sheriff for disposal, either by sale or for use in his department. Copyright 2021 by WPLG Local10.com - All rights reserved. Authorities confiscated 500 50-pound bales of pot, a 40-foot Marathon-based lobster boat, the Miss Lucy, two trucks, a 1980 Ford van, a Chevy pickup with a camper, a 1979 gold Cadillac and two 24- foot T-craft, boats designed for back-country fishing that arepopularwith smugglers because they can haul huge loads over shallow water at high speed. The Big Coppitt cowboys were the most successful. Richard Allen Shank, 31, who drives a Pepsi Cola delivery truck in Key West. Forbes, who's been arrested multiple times, was charged with, among other things, possession of methamphetamine and trafficking eight grams of fentanyl. Once the windows were down, Faison said she smelled a strong odor of both burnt and fresh marijuana coming from inside the car. The bag contained 25 bricks of cocaine. WebRobertson & Hunter, LLP 501 Whitehead St., Ste. In those days the cowboys had faster boats and knew the waters better than the Marine Patrol (except for Officer Mark Walker, the best Marine Patrol Officer anyone has ever seen) so most times they could outrun the law. The site is an isolated lagoon on Florida Bay. They also took at least a half dozen guns, including several satin steel, pearl-handled handguns, and a replica of a Colt .45. At the initial approachto the house there were 2 Customs agents, Seals andanother, the other 3 were Sheriffs deputies one of whomwas Mike Barber. JACKSONVILLE, Fla. Jacksonville Sheriff Mike Williams said a long-term drug investigation took down a major drug distribution ring in Jacksonville consisting of 27 arrests. The drugs had an estimated street value of at least $181,000, according to the office. Whoever loaned his van or truck to a smuggler didnt even have to be there to make $10,000. Monroe County sheriffs deputies pulled over his four-door Mercedes around 1 a.m. Friday behind the Seagrapes Apartment complex at 7155 Overseas Highway. They were expensive guns. At Least two, he said, had satin steel finish with pearl handles. Crime That was one of the scariest nights I ever had. Make a one-time donation today for as little as $1. Alvarez-Bermudez is a convicted felon, so his possession of the gun drew a felony charge. We cannot allow these drugs and the criminals who peddle them to poison our communities and destroy lives," DeSantis said in a statement Wednesday. She's just a few weeks into her job with the Monroe County Sheriff's Office. I was just a hanger-on, not a player. Published on Big Pine Keys garbage days, Tuesdays and Fridays. However, he dreaded the prospect of storing the marijuana. The unloaders of the pot were young Cuban men and were caught milling around Long Beach Road where there are no Cubansnormally seen. "But if you are a poison peddler, and you kill someone in Flagler County, we are going to investigate you for first-degree murder, and we already have four people sitting in state prison for killing someone for selling the lethal dose," Staly said. The cocaine, wrapped up in 25 packages stuffed in a large sack and found off Get the latest updates in news, food, music and culture, and receive special offers direct to your inbox. Oct 23, 2020. Before joining the Herald, he covered Congress, the Environmental Protection Agency and the Department of Energy in Washington, D.C. A police K-9 sniffed out more than six ounces of cocaine inside a car during a traffic stop. That evil gun-toting bunch of psychopaths scared the hell out of me.