CITRUS COUNTY, FL (352today.com) – The Citrus County Sheriff’s Office (CCSO) busted a suspected drug house and arrested four people.

The sheriff’s office activated the SWAT team and Tactical Impact Unit (TIU) on Friday, March 8, to execute a search warrant following an extensive investigation into the activities of people at a home at 304 South Pine Ave. in Inverness.

The bust resulted in the arrests of 37-year-old Dennis Gene Himmel, 39-year-old Mary Elizabeth Wallace, 40-year-old Claire Marie Beck, and 46-year-old Jason Scott Flynn.

The background
The sheriff’s office says their TIU was given information that Himmel was “once again selling illegal narcotics in Citrus County after just being released from prison in April 2023 for similar charges.”

Detectives say they concluded Himmel was dealing illicit narcotics, primarily fentanyl.

CCSO says they executed the search warrant early Friday morning and instructed the occupants to come out multiple times. When they didn’t, the SWAT team forcefully went in.

“After securing multiple people inside the residence, SWAT members came across a locked bedroom door,” shared the sheriff’s office in a Facebook post.

They say they found Himmel inside of the bedroom and say he initially refused to come out, but eventually did. Authorities say Himmel was also on speakerphone with a woman telling him not to speak to law enforcement.

Afterwards, CCSO says TIU members searched the home and found fentanyl, methamphetamine, alprazolam, and multiple items of drug paraphernalia that indicated drug sales.

Detectives say they had already obtained three separate arrest warrants for Himmel for the following charges:

  • Two counts of trafficking in fentanyl and sale of fentanyl within 1000 feet of a school
  • Sale of fentanyl and sale of fentanyl within 1000 feet of a school

Playcare School Readiness Center, Inverness Primary and Citrus High Schools are all near the home.

Himmel, who CCSO says is a three-time convicted felon was also arrested on possession of fentanyl with the intent to sell, possession of methamphetamine with the intent to sell, possession of a controlled substance (Alprazolam), and possession of paraphernalia. He is being held without a bond.

Wallace was arrested for possession of a controlled substance and held on a $2,500 bond.

Beck, a three-time convicted felon, was arrested for possession of paraphernalia and held on a $500 bond.

Flynn, a two-time convicted felon, was arrested for possession of paraphernalia and held on a $500 bond.

“Thanks to the efforts of the Tactical Impact Unit, and with the assistance of the Citrus County Sheriff’s Office SWAT team, a habitual offender has been removed from our streets,” said Sheriff Mike Prendergast. “Fentanyl is an extremely deadly synthetic opioid that kills over 100,000 people every year nationwide. Drug dealers have no place in our community, especially habitual offenders like Himmel, who apparently will never learn. We will continue to fight illicit drug activity in our community at every given opportunity.