Sheriff's Office: Search warrant reveals drug distribution location in Milton

Major Bob Johnson of the Santa Rosa County Sheriff's Office holds an evidence bag containing more than 50 grams of heroin during a Thursday morning press conference. Johnson said a search warrant led to the arrest of Monica Nicole-Gonzales Jones at Arlingwood Drive in Milton on Thursday morning. Johnson estimated the total amount of drugs seized by the search warrant to be around $20,000 in street value.

Early Thursday morning, Deputies with the Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office SWAT and Narcotics Unit conducted a search warrant at a residence on Arlingwood Drive in Milton in which Monica Nicole-Gonzalez Jones was arrested and taken into custody. The location, which is believed to be a significant point of drug distribution, has been under investigation by the sheriff’s office for a couple of months, said Major Bob Johnson of the Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office.

 Johnson considers Thursday morning’s drug seizure in Milton to be significant.

“Normally we see one quarter of a gram or half a gram of heroin,” Johnson said. “This is the first time we have seen this much heroin in Santa Rosa County.”

The following was recovered from the Thursday’s search warrant in Milton.

  •  Over 50 grams of ice − a pure and potent form of methamphetamine
  •  Over 50 grams of heroin, some of which was bundled for distribution
  •  A small amount of cocaine
  •  $500 in cash
  •  A .22 derringer handgun
  •  A Mercedes Sport Utility Vehicle

 Johnson estimates the street value of narcotics found to be around $20,000. During a morning press conference, Johnson said a portion of the investigation was passed along to the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office which also conducted a search warrant at the same time and arrests have been made.

“They also recovered a trafficking amount of heroin there too,” Johnson said.  He added the sheriff’s office is continuing to work with Escambia County’s Sheriff’s Office on the investigation. Johnson also told media, the SRSO anticipates making more arrests as the investigation continues.

Jones, 36, is facing charges of trafficking heroin and methamphetamine with intent to distribute heroin, Johnson said. Jones, who as the only person arrested by SRSO in Thursday's seizure, currently has a set bond of $115,500.

Overall the results from the investigation thus far is considered a success, Johnson said.

“It was a great arrest by the narcotics unit and we got a lot of drugs off the street,” he said.  

This article originally appeared on Santa Rosa Press Gazette: Sheriff's Office: Search warrant reveals drug distribution location in Milton