Sarasota Police Find Guns, Illegal Drugs In Home; 3 Charged

SARASOTA, FL —Three Sarasota residents have been arrested on drug charges after police seized various street drugs, guns and ammunition from a home in the 3000 block of 31st Way.

Fifty-three-year-old Terrence Manley was charged with the sale of cocaine within 1,000 feet of a church since the home is near the Truvine Missionary Baptist Church, according to Genevieve Judge of the Sarasota Police Department.

Twenty-seven-year-old Joseph G. Heard was charged with carrying a concealed weapon, possession of marijuana less than 20 grams and possession of paraphernalia. Twenty-eight-year-old Amanda E. Taggart was charged with possession of a legend drug, according to Judge.

She said police obtained a search warrant for the home based on undercover drug purchases. She also said neighbors complained about the property in the past.

The warrant was served on Feb. 27 by the Sarasota Police Department Narcotics Unit and Street Crimes Unit with SWAT assistance.

Judge said police found the following weapons and illegal drugs in the home:

• 27 grams of MDMA (a party drug also known as molly or ecstasy)
• .38 caliber Smith & Wesson revolver (fully loaded with five .38 rounds)
• .380 KAHR semi-automatic pistol (four rounds including one in the chamber)
• 8.8 grams of an unknown white powder
• 14 - 8mg Buprenorphine patches
• 5 - 8mg Buprenorphine pills (opioid medication)
• 11.5 grams (23 pills) Gabapentin
• .5 grams (one pill) Mirtazapine
• Ammo box filled with mixed ammunition (5.56mm/9mm) and a large knife
• Scale with white residue
• Paraphernalia (seven crack pipes/multiple single dose plastic bags)
• .3 grams of crack cocaine

To report a tip, call the Sarasota Police Department Criminal Investigations Division at 941-263-6070.