Officers responding to a tip about drug sales arrested two for possessing crack cocaine.

A tip was received that narcotics were being sold at 725 105th Street East in Marathon. Officers arrived to check it out at 9:45 p.m. last Friday. When they knocked on the door a woman answered. The officers could smell the odor of marijuana from inside.

They explained why they were there and asked the woman for permission to search. She gave them permission. There were several people inside the residence. They were all patted down for officer safety. During the pat down search of 32 year old Jerome Leatherwood, officers found cocaine in a cigarette box and in a plastic Tylenol bottle. Leatherwood’s girlfriend, 18 year old Michelle Cameron, was also there. She told officers the drugs in the possession of Leatherwood were hers.

Both Leatherwood and Cameron were arrested and charged with possession of cocaine.

The clerk at the Tom Thumb convenience store in Marathon reported being robbed at gunpoint early Monday.

The clerk was at the store at the 48 mile marker of the highway at 5 a.m. when two men with bandanas over their faces walked in. She said one held a handgun pointed at her, while the other one put a bag on the counter and said “give me the money and open the safe.” She gave them the cash from the register, but told them she did not have access to the safe.

The two men took the money and fled from the store. She said they were both young black males. One was wearing a black jacket, black pants and had a black bandana over his face; the second one had a black and white jacket with a design on it, blue jeans and a red bandana.

Detectives are investigating. Anyone with information about the case should call the Sheriff’s Office. Callers who wish to remain anonymous can call Crime Stoppers of the Florida Keys. A tipster whose information leads to an arrest is eligible for a cash reward. The Crime Stoppers hot line is 1-800-346-TIPS or e-tips can be made at tipsubmit.com.

In February, and running for several months, the Sheriff’s Office Traffic Enforcement Unit will begin some special patrols targeting the “Move Over Law”, which requires drivers to move over or slow down when approaching an emergency vehicle with its emergency equipment activated.

This law, and similar laws passed in most states in the U.S., aim specifically to keep first responders safe as they perform their duties. More than 150 U.S. law enforcement officers have been killed since 1999 after being struck by vehicles along America’s highways, according to the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund.

A synopsis of the basics of the “Move Over Law”.

• On a two-lane roadway, you are required to slow to a speed that is 20 miles per hour less than the posted speed limit.
• If the speed limit is 20 miles per hour or less, you must slow down to five miles per hour.
• If you are driving on an interstate or roadway with multiple lanes of travel in the same direction, and you approach an emergency or law enforcement vehicle parked along the roadway, you must vacate the lane closest to that vehicle as soon as it is safe to do so. If you are not able to safely move over, you must slow down to a speed of 20 MPH below the posted speed limit unless directed otherwise by a law enforcement officer.
• Fine  $166.00 and 3 points on your license.

The Traffic Unit will be conducing Saturated Patrols, also known as “wolf packs”, throughout the County over the next few months. Any other traffic violation observed during the operation will, of course, be stopped and either educated or cited.

For more information, and for access to a variety of printed materials, audio public service announcements and video, go to http://www.flhsmv.gov/fhp/misc/SafeEdCamps.htm.

A Marathon man was booked into jail today on numerous drug related charges after undercover operatives purchased illegal substances from him on four different occasions.

Since December of 2009, operatives working for the Sheriff’s Office Special Investigations Division purchased Percocet pills three times and arranged to purchase powdered cocaine once from 47 year old John Lee Hayes. Hayes sold 58 Percocet pills on three different occasions. He then agreed to sell 1.5 ounces of cocaine; he showed up at the meeting place without the drugs and said he needed the money first before he could pick up the cocaine. He was then arrested.

Hayes was charged with three counts of Drug Trafficking, with conspiracy to commit a felony, use of a two way communications device to facilitate a felony (he used a cell phone to facilitate all of the drug crimes) and with driving with his license suspended.

Two men who fought at a party after the Super bowl are now facing charges for the injuries they caused each other.

The fight occurred at 2 a.m. Monday at a home on Starfish Lane on Sugarloaf Key.  27 year old Y Le, who lived at the home where the party was taking place, was reportedly trying to get people to leave the party because it was late. Another man, Vinh Pham of Key West, said he was playing cards at the party when Le told him to leave and he became angry.

Witnesses told responding Deputy Chris Rhinhart the two men argued and then began to fight. At one point, Le attacked Pham with a beer bottle causing deep lacerations to his face. Pham punched Le, causing his jaw to become dislocated.

As the fight continued, Pham reportedly put Le in a choke hold; Le in turn grabbed Pham’s testicles, puncturing them with his fingers.

Le refused medical treatment. Pham was taken to Lower Keys Medical Center. Pham faces battery charges for dislocating Le’s jaw and injuring his face in the fight; Le faces aggravated battery charges for cutting Pham’s face and injuring his testicles. Pham received a total of 52 stitches for his injuries.

Three people were arrested on drug charges after a search warrant was served in Marathon last Thursday.

The warrant was served at 9121 Overseas Highway, Apt A and resulted in the arrest of three people for trafficking in cocaine. The Sheriff’s Office Special Investigations Division, and SWAT team executed the search at 6:00 a.m. Inside the residence the SWAT team located a crack cocaine lab. Detectives located 31 year old Anthony Ross, 33 year old Dywane John Hardge, 38 year old Monique Rene White, and her two children. During the search detectives located 31.87 grams of powder cocaine, 10.8 grams of crack cocaine, 32.2 grams of marijuana, 5 Morphine pills, 1 Glock 19 , and $473 dollars in drug proceeds. Several pieces of glassware used in the crack manufacturing process were also seized.

Ross, who is a convicted felon, admitted to selling crack cocaine and also claimed ownership of the crack cocaine and powder cocaine found in the residence. Ross also told detectives he purchased the Glock handgun.  Hardge told detectives the marijuana in the residence was his. White was found to be in possession of 5 Morphine pills. Also located in the residence was a large flat screen television that was stolen from Indigo Reef Resort. The investigation into the location of this stolen property will be followed up by District 2 CIU.

Ross was charged with trafficking in cocaine, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, and possession of drug paraphernalia and child endangerment. Hardge was charged with felony possession of marijuana. White was charged with possession of controlled substance and child endangerment. City of Marathon Deputies assisted in the search warrant. Deputy Ken Fricke and his K-9 Tracer were very helpful in locating the narcotics.

Department of Children and Families was notified, and will follow up on this investigation.

U.S. Customs working together with the Sheriff’s Office arrested a Miami man with 7 pounds of marijuana Tuesday evening.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection followed a suspicious truck towing a boat with several engines to #45 Boundary Lane on Big Coppitt Key. The truck, driven by 33 year old Yascel Garcia of Miami, stopped at that location at about 7:30 p.m. Garcia and another man unhooked the boat, then parked the truck next to it. Sheriff’s Office road patrol deputies and Special Investigations Detectives responded as back up as officers approached Garcia.

They asked for Garcia’s permission to search his vessel and his truck. In the rear of the truck, they found a large duffel bag with marijuana inside. Garcia told the officers it belonged to him. The marijuana weighed 7.2 pounds. Garcia was charged with possession of marijuana with intent to distribute. His truck and his boat were seized for possible forfeiture. Garcia was booked into jail.

Starting now, and running for several months, the Sheriff’s Office Traffic Enforcement Unit will begin some special patrols targeting the “Move Over Law”, which requires drivers to move over or slow down when approaching an emergency vehicle with its emergency equipment activated.

This law, and similar laws passed in most states in the U.S., aim specifically to keep first responders safe as they perform their duties. More than 150 U.S. law enforcement officers have been killed since 1999 after being struck by vehicles along America’s highways, according to the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund.

Below is synopsis of the basics of the “Move Over Law”.

• On a two-lane roadway, you are required to slow to a speed that is 20 miles per hour less than the posted speed limit.
• If the speed limit is 20 miles per hour or less, you must slow down to five miles per hour.
• If you are driving on an interstate or roadway with multiple lanes of travel in the same direction, and you approach an

emergency or law enforcement vehicle parked along the roadway, you must vacate the lane closest to that vehicle as soon as it is safe to do so. If you are not able to safely move over, you must slow down to a speed of 20 MPH below the posted speed limit unless directed otherwise by a law enforcement officer.

• Fine  is $166 and three points on your license.

The Traffic Unit will be conducing Saturated Patrols, also known as “wolf packs”, throughout the County over the next few months. Any other traffic violation observed during the operation will, of course, be stopped and either educated or cited.

A fight at a Stock Island residence sent one man to the hospital and two others to jail early Tuesday.

Deputies Evan Calhoun and Caridad Bellon responded to Ocean Spray Trailer Park at 2:45 a.m. When they arrived at Lot #8, they found two men yelling, with blood on their hands and clothing, yelling in front of the residence. Assuming someone was injured, they called for an ambulance. They then found a third man – the apparent source of all the blood – in back of the house. The 32 year old victim was bleeding heavily from cuts on his face. He also had damage to his eye.

The two suspects who were in front – 20 year old Jimmy Campbell and 32 year old Timothy Rushing – admitted to attacking the victim. Witnesses confirmed their story. They said they fought with him because he was “loud and obnoxious”. They said they had to use a bottle because he was “big” and was “disrespecting” their house.

Campbell and Rushing were both charged with aggravated battery and they were booked into jail. The victim had a lacerated cornea, a laceration to his left ear a contusion on his forehead and lacerations above and below his eye.

Two 17 year old boys who ran away from Camp Sawyer on West Summerland Key early Monday were caught in a stolen fire truck just hours later, as they attempted to flee the Florida Keys.

Sheriff’s deputies were called to Camp Sawyer on West Summerland Key at 4 a.m. Monday. Counselors at the camp wanted to report the two boys missing. Steven Barron and Joshua Ryan are both from a school in Pennsylvania called “Outward In”. They were at the camp attending a juvenile diversion program for troubled juveniles. They had gone missing from their tent at the camp. A report was taken and a notice to be on the lookout was issued for the boys.

At 8 a.m., deputies were called back to the camp. A bright red 2006 Chevrolet truck belonging to the Big Pine Key Fire Department had been stolen from the camp, where it was parked overnight. Responding Deputy David Chavka realized the likelihood that the missing boys had taken it, so they immediately issued a notice to be on the lookout for the truck.

Deputy Sever Hustad was at the 105 mile marker of the highway and the truck had just passed his location. He radioed ahead to the Florida Highway Patrol to keep an eye out for the truck. FHP pulled the truck over at the 125 mile marker of the highway, arresting the two boys for grand theft auto.

The truck, which had evidence of fresh damage on the right rear of the vehicle, was returned to the fire department.