ST. LUCIE COUNTY – As part of a collaborative crime suppression initiative titled Operation Summer Heat, four people were recently arrested on marijuana possession charges, illegal weapons possession and outstanding warrants for battery and trespassing, according to a Facebook posting by St. Lucie County Sheriff’s Office.

On May 20, the St. Lucie County Sheriff’s Office and Fort Pierce Police Department, in partnership with the FBI and Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) launched Operation Summer Heat which is focused on reducing violent crime; targeting gang activity; removing illegal firearms; and enhancing public safety throughout the community.

The operation began with a traffic stop that led to the arrest Jeremiah Jerome Joseph, 25, and Artevin Avonte Joseph, 20, both of Fort Pierce.

Artevin Joseph was charged with possession of more than 20 grams of marijuana after detectives recovered about 85 grams of marijuana, according to the Facebook posting.

Jeremiah Joseph was arrested for possession of weapon or ammunition by convicted felon and possession of weapon – a short barreled gun, rifle, or machine gun after investigators recovered a Glock 21 .45-caliber handgun equipped with an illegal “switch” machine gun conversion device, according to the Facebook posting.

Jeremiah Jerome Joseph is in the St. Lucie County Jail as of May 20 on a $20,000 bond. Artevin Avonte Joseph is in the St. Lucie County Jail as of May 20 on a $2,500 bond for marijuana possession. He also has no bond on charges of possession of a weapon or ammunition by a convicted felon; resisting an officer without violence; and trespassing.

A second enforcement stop resulted in the arrest of Alphonzo Hurst, 26, of Port St. Lucie, on outstanding warrants for battery and trespassing. He is in the St. Lucie County Jail as of May 22 on a $7,000 bond for those charges.

Later in the operation, detectives encountered a 16-year-old male who fled on foot while armed with a handgun. After a brief foot pursuit, detectives safely took the juvenile into custody and recovered the discarded .357 caliber firearm, according to the Facebook posting.

As detectives continued their investigation in the area where the juvenile fled, multiple investigators converged on a gathering location where about 15 people of varying ages were present. During that investigation, detectives recovered an A.R.-15 style pistol with altered and destroyed serial numbers.

As a result, Operation Summer Heat’s first day resulted in:

• Three adult arrests

• One juvenile arrest

• Three firearms recovered: – Glock .45 caliber handgun with machine gun conversion device (“Switch”)’; a .357 caliber firearm; and a A.R.-15 style pistol with altered/destroyed serial numbers

• 85 grams of marijuana seized.