SANTA ROSA COUNTY

SHERIFF'S OFFICE

Sheriff Wendell Hall

3 Meth Search Warrants Yield 4 Arrests; Confiscation of Money, Drugs, Guns, and Stolen Property

Santa Rosa County Sheriff's Narcotics Detectives have arrested 4 suspects in the past four days as a result of three search warrants being executed. The first search warrant was executed on 12/14/2008 at a residence located at 10074 Nichols Lake Road . When the Sheriff's Office SWAT Team entered the residence, they found 582 grams of methamphetamine in liquid form, 23 grams of methamphetamine, marijuana, xanax pills, and numerous other illegally owned prescription medications. Detectives also located numerous items used to produce methamphetamine: to include 474 pseudo ephedrine pills, empty pseudo ephedrine packs, peeled lithium batteries, glassware, a pump sprayer containing anhydrous ammonia, and digital scales. Detectives also located $4,475.00 in cash, 6 handguns (3 of which were reported stolen), 3 shotguns, 2 rifles (one of which was an AK-47 Assault rifle) and hundreds of rounds of ammunition. The residence was also equipped with surveillance cameras and a motion sensor which gave an audible alert when someone or something crossed the driveway. Two suspects were located at that residence (Shawn Caudell and Erica Smith) and arrested on numerous drug related charges. Detectives later located other stolen items on the property, to include $15,000.00 worth of welding equipment and a $5,200.00 four-wheeler. Caudell had been previously arrested for operating a methamphetamine lab in Milton on November 14, 2007 . During that incident, Caudell was not present. Detectives located close to 2,500 grams of liquid methamphetamine at that location ( 5400 Tom Sawyer Road ). Caudell was eventually located and arrested on charges stemming from that incident at a location Autauga , Alabama . When he was located in Alabama , Caudell was also found to be in possession of a methamphetamine lab. Caudell was currently out on bond awaiting sentencing on those charges when he was caught on December 14 th , 2008.

On December 17 th , 2008 , Narcotics detectives executed two more methamphetamine search warrants at 4221 and 4223 Celtic Circle in Pace, FL. During these two search warrants, detectives located items utilized to manufacture methamphetamine, to include: coleman fuel, fertilizer, pill grinders, gas generators, drain cleaner, starting fluid, salt, acetone, lithium batteries, pseudo ephedrine pills, illegally obtained prescription medications, and "cutting agents" to cut the methamphetamine in order to gain a higher yield. Two suspects were located at the locations on Celtic Circle (William Wise and James Rowan) and arrested on drug related charges.

Currently, to date in 2008, the Sheriff's Office has dismantled 14 methamphetamine labs. 43 suspects have been arrested as a result. 1,296 grams of liquid methamphetamine has been seized, along with 79.1 grams of powder methamphetamine. (with a street value of $134,380.00)

SUSPECT(S):

Erica Ladye Smith, W/F, 21 years old

10074 Nichols Lake Road , Milton , FL

Charges:

  Possession of New Legend Drug w/out prescription, 2 nd degree misd.

Possession of Controlled Substance w/out Prescription, 3 rd degree felony

Possession of Marijuana under 20 grams, 1 st degree misdemeanor

Storing Anhydrous Ammonia in Unlawful Container, 3 rd degree felony

Trafficking in Methamphetamine over 14 grams, 1 st degree felony

  Possession of Narcotic Equipment, 1 st degree misdemeanor

Possession of Felony Narcotic Equipment, 3 rd degree felony

  Possession of Listed Chemicals to Manufacture Methamphetamine, 2 nd degree felony

   $90,000.00 bond

Shawn Shannon Caudell, W/M, 37 years old

10074 Nichols Lake Road , Milton , FL

Charges:

  Possession of New Legend Drug w/out prescription, 2 nd degree misd.

Possession of Controlled Substance w/out Prescription, 3 rd degree felony

Possession of Marijuana under 20 grams, 1 st degree misdemeanor

Storing Anhydrous Ammonia in Unlawful Container, 3 rd degree felony

Trafficking in Methamphetamine over 14 grams, 1 st degree felony

  Possession of Narcotic Equipment, 1 st degree misdemeanor

Possession of Felony Narcotic Equipment, 3 rd degree felony

  Possession of Listed Chemicals to Manufacture Methamphetamine, 2 nd degree felony

No bond

William Terry Wise, W/M, 46 years old

4223 Celtic Circle , Pace , FL

Charges:

  Production of Methamphetamine, 2 nd degree felony

  Felony Possession of Narcotic Equipment, 3 rd degree felony

  Possession of Listed Chemicals to Manufacture Methamphetamine, 2 nd degree felony

   $30,000.00 bond

James John Rowan, W/M, 41 years old

10641 Hwy. 87 North, Milton , FL

Charges:

  Possession of New Legend Drug w/out prescription, 2 nd degree misd.

  Production of Methamphetamine, 2 nd degree felony

  Felony Possession of Narcotic Equipment, 3 rd degree felony

  Possession of Listed Chemicals to Manufacture Methamphetamine, 2 nd degree felony

   $35,500.00 bond

Stolen Property located and recovered from 10074 Nichols Lake Road :

2007 Honda ATV, valued at $5,200.00 which was reported stolen from an address in Pace during October 2008.

$15,000.00 worth of welding equipment which was reported stolen from an address in Milton during October 2008.

9 mm handgun stolen from a residence in Pace during December 2007.

Press Release By:

Sgt. Scott Haines

Media Relations Unit

(850) 981-2136 or shaines@srso.net