ST. LUCIE COUNTY, Fla. (CBS12) — A man suspected of supplying fentanyl to a person who later died of an overdose was arrested after detectives used the victim’s phone to arrange another drug delivery and pursued him at speeds topping 115 mph on I-95, authorities said.
According to the St. Lucie County Sheriff’s Office, James Arthur Green, 43, of Miami, was arrested after a weeks-long narcotics investigation focused on a suspected connection to a fatal fentanyl overdose.
Sheriff Richard Del Toro said at a news conference Wednesday that the overdose death happened Oct. 5. He said detectives spent the following two weeks working to identify the person who supplied the drugs.
“It doesn’t just stop, you know, going into a call with an overdose,” Del Toro said. “We look into where these people have purchased narcotics from.”
Detectives made multiple undercover purchases of fentanyl, methamphetamine and crack cocaine. The sheriff’s office said the investigation produced evidence identifying Green as the suspected supplier of fentanyl to the person who later died.
On Tuesday, Oct. 13, investigators used the victim’s cellphone to place an order for fentanyl, the sheriff’s office said. Green allegedly returned to the victim’s home, delivered about 2 grams of fentanyl and sent a photograph showing where he left it.
Del Toro said Green did not know the person had died.
“He was nice enough to do that,” the sheriff said of the photo. “Let us know exactly where he left them.”
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Later that day, during a separate undercover operation, Green allegedly took part in another controlled drug transaction involving about 2 ounces of fentanyl and 1 pound of methamphetamine.
When detectives tried to arrest him, Green fled in a vehicle and struck an unmarked sheriff’s office detective vehicle before driving south on I-95. A pursuit followed, reaching speeds of about 115 mph. Authorities said Green was seen throwing suspected narcotics and a cellphone from the vehicle.
Florida Highway Patrol troopers and Martin County Sheriff’s Office deputies joined the pursuit as it entered Martin County. FHP used stop sticks, and a trooper performed a PIT maneuver near Kanner Highway, ending the pursuit.
“I’m happy that it ended successfully and safely for everybody involved,” Del Toro said. “But this is a dangerous individual.”
After Green’s arrest, the sheriff’s office SWAT team executed a search warrant at his residence in the 300 block of Southeast Naranja Avenue. Narcotics recovered during the investigation included about 1 pound of methamphetamine and 2 ounces of fentanyl associated with the controlled purchase, along with 22 additional grams of methamphetamine, 2 grams of crack cocaine, and 1 gram of fentanyl.
Del Toro said Green is a 10-time convicted felon. He said Green was already out on bond on unrelated charges in Miami-Dade County when he was arrested. Green remains in the St. Lucie County Jail on a $440,000 bond, which was set at his first appearance Wednesday morning.
The sheriff said Green’s record includes cocaine trafficking, sale of heroin, robbery with a firearm, and fleeing and eluding.
“Obviously this guy does not want to turn his life around,” Del Toro said.
Charges filed by the St. Lucie County Sheriff’s Office:
Trafficking in fentanylTrafficking in cocaineFour counts of trafficking in methamphetamineSale of cocaineUnlawful use of a two-way communication device
Charges filed by the Florida Highway Patrol include:
Two counts of aggravated battery on a law enforcement officerTrafficking in fentanylTrafficking in methamphetamineTwo counts of fleeing and eludingTampering with evidenceReckless drivingDangerous excessive speeding (more than 100 mph) Resisting an officer without violence
The overdose investigation remains active.