CITRUS COUNTY, Fla. (WFLA) — A search warrant led to the arrest of four people in Citrus County on Friday, March 8, according to the Citrus County Sheriff’s Office.
The sheriff’s office said 37-year-old Dennis Gene Himmel, 39-year-old Mary Elizabeth Wallace, 40-year-old Claire Marie Beck, and 46-year-old Jason Scott Flynn were arrested after the office’s SWAT and Tactical Impact Unit teams executed a narcotics search warrant.
Himmel was released from prison in April 2023 for similar charges, and an investigation revealed he was selling narcotics – such as fentanyl – illegally in Citrus County, per investigators.
Teams carried out the search warrant around 5:40 a.m. on Friday at 304 South
Pine Avenue in Inverness. After commanding the occupants to leave the residence and receiving no compliance, SWAT team members forced entry into the home and secured those inside, per the sheriff’s office.
During his arrest, Himmel was on the phone with a Florida man who told him not to speak to law enforcement, investigators said.
The sheriff’s office said a search of the residence uncovered fentanyl, methamphetamine, alprazolam, and multiple items of paraphernalia indicating drug sales.
“Thanks to the efforts of the Tactical Impact Unit, and with the assistance of the Citrus County Sheriff’s Office SWAT team, a habitual offender has been removed from our streets,” said Sheriff Mike Prendergast. “Fentanyl is an extremely deadly synthetic opioid that kills over one hundred thousand people every year nationwide. Drug dealers have no place in our community, especially habitual offenders like Himmel, who apparently will never learn. We will continue to fight illicit drug activity in our community at every given opportunity.”
Himmel, a three-time convicted felon is facing charges of possession of fentanyl with intent to sell, possession of methamphetamine with intent to sell, possession of a controlled substance, and possession of paraphernalia. He is being held without bond.
Wallace is facing a charge of possession of a controlled substance. Her bond is set at $2,500.
Beck, a three-time convicted felon, and Fynn, a two-time convicted felon, are facing charges of possession of paraphernalia. Their bonds are set at $500.
