Narcotics bust at Port Charlotte home Thursday morning

A home on Eblis Avenue in Port Charlotte was the target of a narcotics raid early Thursday morning.

The Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office’s narcotics unit, with assistance from the SWAT team, searched the home, where detectives say they located methamphetamine, fentanyl and ammunition inside.

This isn’t the first time law enforcement has shown up at that house. The occupants of that home, Jennifer Orlick and Brandon Tuft, were the targets of a search warrant back in May 2021, leading to two arrests and several charges, including trafficking fentanyl.

On Thursday morning, deputies partnered with SWAT to arrest the pair who are now being held at the Charlotte County Jail.

“SWAT guys with like, full body armor and then like tanks and like, they’re all over? It was crazy,” said neighbor Gail Cruz.

A child was home and was taken into custody by the department of children and families.

“When she came back, and then we thought it’s going to happen again. Then like, like us, as of this morning. They gave us it again. They didn’t learn their lesson,” said Cruz.

This time, deputies found fentanyl, methamphetamine, drug paraphernalia and ammunition on the floor of a child’s room.

“It’s so sad to like to, to involve your kid in that kind of like living and like that kind of lifestyle.” Cruz said, “we have kids here. Like, we don’t want them here. We don’t want their business over here.”

Charlotte County deputies were also called to the home last month concerning an overdose.

Neighbors said their community is no place for criminal activity.

“I am very relieved at what the police have done and I wish to thank them immensely for it. The whole neighborhood is relieved totally that she is gone. And we’re all nervous, especially the ones with the children,” said Cruz.

Orlick and Tuft are facing seven drug charges.