St. Pete police arrest 2 in their ‘largest drug bust’ in 20 years: officials

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (WFLA) — St. Petersburg police arrested two people after making one of the largest drug busts in two decades, officials said.

On Aug. 7, the St. Petersburg Police Department executed several search warrants including one on at a home on 29th Street North, which St Petersburg police called “the warehouse.” They said some of the drugs distributed out of it looked like cookie dough.

“In the warehouse, is where only the suppliers were allowed to come pick up the narcotics,” St. Petersburg police Chief Anthony Holloway said. “From there the suppliers then distributed their narcotics to the street-level drug dealers.”

St. Petersburg police Chief Anthony Holloway said during the search, dubbed “Operation Cookie Dough,” officers confiscated:

• 10.7 kilos of Fentanyl
• 10.6 kilos of Powder Cocaine
• 10.2 ounces of Oxycodone
• 11 pounds of Marijuana
• Half a million dollars
• Three handguns and firearms

“I want to also thank Mr. Watson for the cash because once we get that cleared through our city, we be able to take his cash that we received from him and put it to good use instead of what he was using it for, for illegal gain,” Holloway said.

With the help of FDLE and citizens, the St. Petersburg Police Department was able to arrest two suspects and are currently looking for one.

David Lee Watson, 36, is facing charges of felon in possession of a firearm, trafficking in cocaine, trafficking in fentanyl, money laundering, and structuring transactions to evade reporting.

Kelvin Maysonet, 34, has been booked into the Orange County Jail on operating a drug house, trafficking in cocaine, trafficking in amphetamines, and possession of marijuana with intent to sell charges.

Neighbors like Jennifer Scudder-Berry were shocked to find out a major drug operation had been taking place just doors down from her and her family of five.

“I’d rather be the person that has my kid be able to knock on your door for Halloween… oh my gosh that just gave me the chills,” Scudder-Berry said. “Halloween is right around the corner and what if they did knock on their door? What would they have gotten?”

One of her biggest concerns is that there is still a wanted suspect: 34-year-old Alexander Graham.

“How does it get in and out? What are they bringing it in with? They were so quiet,” said Scudder-Berry. “I guess it’s the quiet ones you have to watch out for.”

St. Pete Police said a citizen tipped them off reminding the community to say something if you see something.

“We have Narcan. I have my 21-year-old daughter who works on the beach carry Narcan with her. I carry it for me. I have it in our car and it’s not for us it’s just in case,” said Scudder-Berry. “So we know that it’s a very serious epidemic and having it right down the street from us, I feel so blind.”

“Operation Cookie Dough” was a nine-month-long investigation funded by the FDLE S.A.F.E (State Assistance for Fentanyl Eradication) grant.

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