Drug raid leads to arrest of three men, discovery of methamphetamine, fentanyl

MIDDLEBURG – An early morning raid on a home on Cosmos Avenue led to the arrest of three men and the discovery and sales of methamphetamine, fentanyl and heroin on Aug. 6.
Howard Wayne Haddock, 57, was charged with trafficking methamphetamine, possession of fentanyl, operating a house known for drug sales and possession of drug paraphernalia; Roy Franklin Cope, 39, was charged with selling heroin, fentanyl and methamphetamine and the use of a cell phone to facilitate a felony; and, Robert Eugene Arnold, 50, was charged with selling and trafficking methamphetamine and using a cell phone to facilitate a felony.
The Clay County Sheriff’s Office’s SWAT and Narcotics Unit served a warrant at Haddock’s home at Aug. 5 and 6:30 a.m. Agents found 14.5 grams of methamphetamine, divided into packaged bags, a syringe, .3 grams of fentanyl, clear plastic bags and a digital scale in Haddock’s bedroom, according to the arrest report.
The arrests came a week after Sheriff Michelle Cook announced a program called Hammer and Hope which was designed to concentrate on the illegal drug trade in the Middleburg and Clay Hill areas. Haddock’s home became a target after two overdoses were reported at the residence in a 21-day period.
Haddock’s bond was set at $302,511.
Deputies found .5 grams of fentanyl in Cope’s wallet during the raid, CCSO said. He also was charged with possession of heroin after the sheriff’s office orchestrated a purchase by a confidential informant at Cosmos Avenue on July 27 and selling fentanyl and methamphetamine in a convenience store parking lot on July 12. His bond was set at $325,012.
Arnold was charged with selling $60 worth of methamphetamine at the Cosmos Avenue house on June 29, CCSO said. The sale was set up on Facebook Messenger. His bond was set at $232,518.

CCSO: Two men charged with armed robbery of SUV, PlayStation

ORANGE PARK – Two men were arrested after the Clay County Sheriff’s Office said they stole a man’s car after hitting him with a pistol.
Stevie Michael Lee, 20, of Jacksonville, and Adarious Nevon Ingram, 18, of Bessmer, Alabama, were charged with armed robbery with a deadly weapon. Lee also was charged with grand theft auto after CCSO said they took a Honda SUV and a PlayStation 5 from a man on Aug. 4, while Ingram was charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.
The vehicle was stopped by the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office after the victim called for help. The victim was still in the SUV with the two defendants.
Lee’s bond was set at $25,003, while Ingram’s bond was set at $500,003.
Both men are scheduled to be back in court on Sept. 7.

Man jailed after his girlfriend, her father almost hit by his car

MIDDLEBURG – A 19-year-old man was arrested after the Clay County Sheriff’s Office said he tried to hit his girlfriend and her father with his car on Aug. 8 during an argument.
Nathan Michael Hall was charged with aggravated assault with intent to commit a felony, simple domestic battery and sending written threats to kill or do bodily harm after deputies were called to a home on Green Meadows Drive.
According to the arrest report, Hall was in his car on the other side of a gate. A woman told Hall to leave, and she eventually brought her father to force him to leave. When the father opened the gate, Hall ran his car through the gate, forcing the father and daughter to jump out of the way. Hall then grabbed the father by his neck, CCSO said.
Deputies saw a message from Hall on the woman’s phone that threatened her.
Hall was ordered to stay away from the daughter and father. Hall left the Clay County Jail after posting an $22,010 bond.