JACKSONVILLE, Fla. \u2013 Four people were arrested after Jacksonville Sheriff\u2019s Office detectives served a search warrant Sept. 2 at the Price Rite Food Store on Moncrief Road, where investigators said they found drugs, a handgun and more than $3,000 in cash.<\/p>\n
JSO said it began investigating the business in January after receiving complaints from residents about suspected drug deals and other suspicious activity.<\/p>\n
Detectives identified three people they believe were involved in the drug activity, along with a store clerk, who we are not naming in this story.<\/p>\n
Vanness Pryor, 51, faces three counts of selling cocaine within 1,000 feet of a community center and one count of possessing a controlled substance. Detectives said they conducted multiple undercover crack cocaine purchases from Pryor and saw him conduct hand-to-hand transactions at the store.<\/p>\n
Breon Rooker, 26, faces five counts of selling marijuana. Detectives said Rooker sold marijuana during five undercover transactions at the store.<\/p>\n
Tyqess Johnson, 34, faces charges of selling marijuana and possessing a controlled substance. Detectives said Johnson sold marijuana during an undercover transaction and was found with marijuana during the search.<\/p>\n
During the search, detectives seized:<\/p>\n
1.8 grams of fentanyl<\/p>\n
16.5 grams of crack cocaine<\/p>\n
6.6 grams of marijuana<\/p>\n
One handgun<\/p>\n
More than $3,000 in cash<\/p>\n
One resident said he wasn\u2019t surprised to hear about the arrests.<\/p>\n
\u201cLook at all the activity that\u2019s going around, I can\u2019t even walk to Family Dollar with my daughter because I know I have to walk past this store,\u201d Demetrius King said.<\/p>\n
JSO also used tips from the community to shut down this operation.<\/p>\n
\u201c[We\u2019re] trying to make things better, clean up these areas, but it takes a lot of people and it takes a community\u2019s help too,\u201d a woman who didn\u2019t want to be identified said.<\/p>\n
News4JAX observed that the entrance was chained shut with an orange sign on the door and it was closed.<\/p>\n