Volusia sheriff, deputies arrest fleeing driver with ‘dangerous amount of fentanyl,' officials say

Volusia County sheriff’s deputies and Sheriff Mike Chitwood arrested a 23-year-old Daytona Beach fugitive Friday night after he fled from an attempted traffic stop and a dangerous amount of fentanyl was found in his vehicle. Key’Shaun Martin (DOB 5-22-1996) was wanted on drug-trafficking charges following a recent major narcotics investigation in Volusia County. Known as “Operation Smooth Criminal,” that yearlong investigation was unveiled May 16 when members of the Volusia County Sheriff’s Office and the Volusia Bureau of Investigation dismantled an organization responsible for distributing heroin, fentanyl and cocaine in Volusia County and beyond. Ringleaders and several other members were arrested with more arrests expected. Martin was arrested Friday night after being spotted driving a vehicle with a stolen license tag. As a deputy attempted a traffic stop, Martin immediately fled the scene. The sheriff’s helicopter Air 1 was alerted and followed the vehicle, a black Infinity, as it sped recklessly through neighborhoods in Daytona Beach, Holly Hill and Ormond Beach. Stop sticks were deployed at two different locations and the vehicle finally came to a rest near the intersection of Seville Street and South Ridgewood Avenue in Ormond Beach. The driver, identified as Martin, was taken into custody without incident. Deputies and detectives searched the vehicle and located multiple phones, scales containing narcotic residue and multiple plastic bags. Deputies and detectives surmised the contents of the bags were emptied into a beverage cup in the vehicle and tested positive for liquid fentanyl. At least 239 grams of fentanyl were located in the vehicle – a dangerous amount that has the capacity to kill hundreds of people. Martin had an active warrant for his arrest on charges of conspiracy to traffic heroin and unlawful use of a two-way communication device to facilitate a crime with a $250,000 bond. “This arrest illustrates our commitment to fighting the opioid epidemic here in our county and stopping scumbags like Key’Shaun Martin from further trafficking deadly heroin and fentanyl, which is killing members of our community,” Sheriff Chitwood said Saturday. “The amount of fentanyl Martin had in his possession at the time of his arrest could have easily killed hundreds, if not thousands of people and I’m confident that his arrest has prevented another overdose in our county.” Martin was charged with conspiracy to traffic heroin 28 grams or more; unlawful use of a two-way communication device to commit a crime; flee/att to elude with lights siren active; drug offense (felony); petit theft first offense. He remains held at the Volusia County Branch Jail on $1,007,000 bail.

Posted by Volusia Sheriff's Office on Saturday, June 1, 2019