An open line 911 call resulted in the seizure of multiple drugs and guns and the arrest of a Morriston man on July 21.
According to a Levy County Sheriff’s Office (LCSO) release, deputies arrested John H. Chastain, 34, of Morriston on multiple charges that included possession of drugs, possession of a weapon by a convicted felon and resisting arrest.
On July 21, Deputies initially responded to a residence on SE 55th Street in Morriston to investigate an open line call made to 911. The 911 operators said they could not hear noises or sounds of distress, but two weeks prior to the call, deputies responded to a domestic violence call at the address. The suspect fled before law enforcement arrived and was not apprehended.
When deputies arrived, they saw a male standing on the front porch who retreated inside the house. A Ford F-150 pickup was parked in the driveway with the driver’s door open. Inside the truck, deputies spotted two handguns, cash and drugs. The vehicle was registered to the same person suspected in the previous domestic violence call and matched the description of the man who went inside the house.
Deputies and LCSO Drug Task Force personnel surrounded the residence and called for the suspect to surrender. When the suspect did not surrender, law enforcement entered the home with permission from the homeowner. Deputies found the suspect hiding in a closet and identified him as Chastain. Chastain did not surrender peacefully and fought the deputy’s attempts to handcuff him.
Chastain was arrested for felony battery along with the domestic violence incident from two weeks prior. Deputies also found 17.1 grams of Fentanyl in Chastain’s pocket.
The truck was sealed with visible contraband inside and was towed to the LCSO impound yard. A search warrant was obtained and, on Monday, July 24, the Drug Task Force detectives discovered two visible guns, drugs and money. The detectives also found a third gun and more narcotics. One of the three guns was previously reported stolen in Levy County on March 9.
According to the release, detectives discovered, “278.7 grams of Fentanyl (0.61 pounds), 580.1 grams of methamphetamines (1.27 pounds), 57.5 grams of powder cocaine, 20.8 grams of crack cocaine, 2.9 grams of MDMD ecstasy, 26.7 grams of marijuana, five packs of Fentanyl 12 mcg per hour patches, oxycodone and $1,600 in US currency.
“In the State of Florida possession of more than 400 grams of methamphetamines is considered a trafficking offense and is punishable as a capital felony with a potential life sentence and possession of Fentanyl in excess of 28 grams carries a minimum mandatory sentence of 25 years,” the release stated.
Chastain is being held in the Levy County Detention Center on a $3.81 million bond and has been charged with various crimes.