Sheriff: Okeechobee couple arrested after drug raid and children taken from house

OKEECHOBEE, Fla. (CBS12) — Two young children were kidnapped Tuesday from a home in Okeechobee where officials found fentanyl, cocaine, marijuana and other drug paraphernalia.

The Okeechobee County Sheriff's Office (OCSO) said the target of the investigation was 23-year-old Antonio Bartell Jr. It began when concerned citizens reported that Bartell was distributing crack, cocaine, marijuana, fentanyl and other illegal narcotics from his residence at 4026 Hwy. 441 SE.

The OCSO's Narcotics Task Force conducted undercover controlled buys and purchased pills pressed by Bartell that were laced with fentanyl and crack cocaine, the sheriff's office alleged.

Following the interaction, the Task Force conducted a traffic stop on Bartell and he was initially arrested for the following reasons:

• Sale of fentanyl within 300 meters of a place of worship
• Possession of fentanyl with intent to sell within 300 meters of places of worship
• Sale of cocaine within 300 metres of a place of worship
• Possession of cocaine with the intent to sell within 300 metres of a place of worship

A sniffer dog alerted investigators to Bartell's vehicle during the stop and a search was conducted. The sheriff's office said a pressed pill laced with fentanyl was found on a seat that matched the pill purchased by Bartell.

After Bartell's arrest, OCSO contacted Bartell's girlfriend, 22-year-old Evelyn Mireles. The sheriff's office said Mireles agreed to accompany officers to their shared home and the task force served and executed the search warrant based on probable cause.

See also: Over 1,300 new jobs expected as Amazon expands to Port St. Lucie and other Florida locations

When investigators searched the home, they found pressed pills containing fentanyl, cocaine, marijuana, ammunition (.223, 9mm and .40 caliber) and drug paraphernalia, the release said. The sheriff's office said Bartell has two previous convictions for drug offenses, probation violations, bringing a firearm to school and throwing or firing a deadly projectile into a dwelling — which means he should not possess firearms.

In addition, the Narcotics Task Force stated that there was also evidence that crack cocaine was being manufactured in the home, which is home to two children under the age of three. The narcotics found in the home during the search were scattered throughout the home, near food, plates, silverware and the children's belongings, the release said. The items were in a location that the children could easily access.

After a search of the house, Bartell is now additionally charged with the following:

• Possession of fentanyl with intent to sell
• Production of cocaine
• Possession of cocaine with intent to sell
• Possession of ammunition by a convicted felon
• Possession of psilocybin
• Two cases of child abuse
• Possession of drug paraphernalia

Mireles was also arrested after the home was secured, the sheriff's office said. She faces the following:

• Production of cocaine
• Two cases of child abuse
• Possession of psilocybin
• Possession of fentanyl
• Possession of marijuana under 20 grams
• Possession of drug paraphernalia

The sheriff's office said Mireles was able to release her child to a family member on the condition that the Department of Children and Families be informed of the child's living conditions in the home.

The connection between the two people will be established at their first appearance, the OCSO said.

Find more ways to stay up to date with the latest local news. Subscribe to our newsletter to get the day's top headlines delivered straight to your inbox. Subscribe to our YouTube channel to get the most important stories and videos you can't miss.