Three people were arrested last week in a sting operation targeting known drug areas and dealers.
The first phase of Operation Bassville Park was conducted by detectives from the Lake County Sheriff’s Office’s Special Investigations Unit and deputies from the Street Crimes Unit. The goal was to stem the flow of illegal narcotics in the designated area.
As a result of the operation, detectives arrested Nicholas Bradway and Kyle Vanzant, both of whom were identified as “known drug dealers” by the sheriff’s office, as well Taylor Rigano, who was jailed on multiple drug charges.
Deputies spotted Bradway driving a silver Acura in the Bassville Park area and attempted to stop his vehicle. He fled the area and eventually crashed into a tree Carlton Court in Leesburg, the sheriff’s office report states.
Detectives searched Bradway’s vehicle and located at “one-stop-shop of illegal narcotics,” which included approximately 52 grams of methamphetamine and plastic baggies containing Fentanyl, cocaine, MDMA, Hydrocodone pills, Suboxone pills and numerous amounts of drug paraphernalia, the report says.
Vanzant’s vehicle was stopped in the target area and during a subsequent search, deputies found a 9mm Taurus handgun that was reported stolen in Apopka, prepackaged plastic baggies of methamphetamine and marijuana and numerous items of drug paraphernalia, the report says.
Detectives also located a small amount of white powder that tested positive for Fentanyl and later was to belong to another suspect who still is under investigation and likely to be sought on an arrest warrant at a later date, the report says.
Rigano’s blue sport utility vehicle also was stopped in the target area and during a search, detectives found “user amounts” of heroin, Fentanyl, methamphetamine, marijuana and numerous amounts of used needles and smoking devices, the report says.
All three suspects were transported to the Lake County Jail. Bradway was charged with driving while license suspended (habitual offender), fleeing/eluding, trafficking in methamphetamine and possession of Fentanyl, cocaine, MDMA, Hydrocodone, Suboxone and drug paraphernalia.
Vanzant was charged with possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute, grand theft of a firearm and possession of drug paraphernalia and marijuana over 20 grams.
Rigano was charged with possession of fentanyl, heroin, methamphetamine, marijuana and drug paraphernalia. The investigation is ongoing and sheriff’s officials say more arrests are expected.
