A traffic stop led to the arrests of four people, including two described as “significant heroin dealers,” according to Port St. Lucie police.
Officers said 62-year-old Andre Valente was driving when they pulled his car over near SE West Snow Road and SE Bevil Ave. Wednesday.
Police said they found 284 heroin-filled capsules.
The discovery led the Special Investigations Division, Neighborhood Policing Bureau, a K-9 unit, DEA and ATF agents to serve search warrants in the 200 block of SW Dalton Circle and 2700 block of SW Somber Road.
On SW Somber Road police said they found 4 handguns, ammo and heroin and drug paraphernalia used for packaging and sale. And they said they confiscated heroin, Clonazepam, and drug paraphernalia on SW Dalton Circle.
In addition to Valente, Darin Fonte, 50, Erin Bowie, 34, and 32-year-old Jacklyn Martinez were taken into custody.
Police described Valente and Fonte as “significant dealers of heroin.” Valente is jailed on $256,875 bond. Bail for Fonte was set at almost $91,000.
Bowie is charged with heroin possession with intent to sell and Martinez is charged with possession of a controlled substance without and prescription.
"We've been having deaths pretty much weekly here in the city, overdoses, multiple overdoses weekly. So, we're hoping this puts a significant dent in that problem,” said Assistant Port St. Lucie Police Chief Richard Del Toro.
Police say more arrests are expected.