INDIAN RIVER COUNTY — In the evening hours of July 23, detectives with the Indian River County Sheriff’s Office Multi-Agency Criminal Enforcement (M.A.C.E.) Unit arrested four people who now face various drug- and firearm-related charges.
“This case came to us from the community,” Indian River County Sheriff Deryl Loar said in the release provided by the Sheriff’s Office. “Residents were tired of the constant drug traffic in their neighborhood. Because of the help we received, our M.A.C.E. Unit was able to take three guns away from convicted felons.”
Authorities executed a search warrant in the 3900 block of 47th Street in Gifford, according to the Sheriff’s Office. During the search, detectives located and seized one .38-caliber handgun, one .22-caliber Derringer style handgun, and a loaded M-14 rifle with drum magazine which contained 60 .223-caliber bullets.
Also taken from the home were four grams of crack cocaine, 23 dilaudid pills, 14 oxycodone pills, 13 suboxone pills, six methadone pills, 19 grams of marijuana, $1,200 of what authorities characterized as “drug money,” and a 2003 Toyota Tacoma pickup truck.
Miscellaneous drug paraphernalia and small quantities of other pills were also seized.
Arrested in the investigation were:
- James Bryant Jr., 52, of Gifford, was charged with possession of cocaine, possession of suboxone, possession of methadone, possession of dilaudid, possession of acetametophen/hydrocodone, possession of less than 20 grams of marijuana, and three counts of possession of drug paraphernalia.
- James Bryant, III, 30, of Gifford, was charged with two counts of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and possession of ammunition by a convicted felon.
- Nathaniel Bryant, 46, of Gifford, was charged with possession of firearm by a convicted felon, possession of ammunition by a convicted felon, and possession of less than twenty grams of marijuana.
- Steven Ashworth, 43, of Vero Beach was charged with possession of hydromorphone, possession of oxycodone, and possession of crack cocaine.
The Indian River County Sheriff’s Office encourages those with tips on any type of criminal activity to contact Treasure Coast Crime Stoppers at 1-800-273-TIPS (8477). You can remain anonymous and be eligible for a reward of up to $1,000.
