Arrests made for dealing fentanyl’

Drugs and paraphernalia seized by officers.

Candace Mermer and Curtis Woodward.

On Wednesday, Sept. 7, Wakulla County Sheriff’s Office detectives, alongside Leon County Sheriff’s Office detectives, agents with the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, members of North Star Multijurisdictional Drug Task Force and K9 Officers from the Florida Department of Corrections, executed a search warrant at 799 Rehwinkel Road in Crawfordville, as part of the ongoing efforts with “Operation Death Dealer.”

As a result of the search warrant execution, Curtis Ray Woodward, 27, and Candace Ashley Mermer, 36, were arrested for Trafficking of Fentanyl, Child Neglect, and various other charges.

As part of the investigation leading to the subsequent search warrant, controlled buys were conducted of which elementary age children were present during some of the transactions.

Operation Death Dealer was begun to specifically address the rise in illegal fentanyl distribution which has led to numerous overdoses in North Florida and across the state. Those overdoses often lead to serious medical conditions, and or death. Operation Death Dealer is a multi-faceted ongoing operation.

When law enforcement entered the residence to execute the search warrant, Woodward and Mermer were taken into custody, also present were two elementary aged children.

Detectives observed two bags containing a white powder on a dresser top which subsequently tested positive for fentanyl.

Also found was a set of digital scales, which had white powder residue on them.

All items were seized as evidence.

During a search of the vehicle in the front yard belonging to Mermer, detectives located a cut straw with fentanyl residue on it within the vehicle in plain view. The cut straw was seized as evidence.

After Woodward was informed of the reason, he was being placed under arrest he became irate, began kicking the interior of the patrol vehicle and head butting the cage of the vehicle. While the door was open, he forcefully tried to exit the vehicle, hitting a detective in the process. Woodward was subdued and transported to the Wakulla County Jail.

Woodward was charged with:

• Trafficking in controlled substance 4 grams to 30 Kilograms.

• Two counts of Child Neglect

• Battery on Law enforcement officer.

• Possession of drug paraphernalia.

• Two counts of Synthetic Narcotic Possession.

• Two counts of Sale of Synthetic Narcotic

• And two counts of Illegal Use of a Two-Way Communication Device Mermer was arrested and booked into the Wakulla County Jail on the following charges:

• Trafficking in controlled substance 4 grams to 30 Kilograms.

• Child Neglect

• Possession of drug paraphernalia.