January 26, 2008
Brandon Haught
Public Information Office

DRUG STING NEAR DELAND NETS 9 ARRESTS 

A drug sting netted nine people trying to buy illegal drugs Friday evening near DeLand. Spearheaded by the West Volusia Narcotics Task Force, the operation focused on areas known for drug activity based on neighborhood complaints. 

Undercover agents posed as street-corner drug dealers and were approached by people wanting to buy drugs. However, the buyers didn’t know that the agents were actually offering artificial substances made to resemble crack cocaine.  After negotiating each drug deal, agents sent the signal for the takedown team to move in for the arrest. 

The Task Force is a multi-agency force of narcotics agents from the Volusia County Sheriff’s Office and DeLand Police Department that shares resources and crosses jurisdictional boundaries to combat street-level drug and vice crimes.  

The names of the defendants and their charges are as follows: 

• William Edwards, 29, 285 W. Park Street, Lake Helen. Attempted purchase of cocaine.
• Hector Villarini, 44, 866 Orange Oak Ave. Orange City. Attempted purchase of a controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia.
• David Bazenas, 36, 3150 Deer Trail, DeLand. Attempted purchase of crack cocaine.
• Cari Donoher, 43, 3274 S. Semoran Blvd. Apt. 14, Orlando. Attempted purchase of crack cocaine.
• Darren Chalkley, 38, 732 E. Cox Street, DeLand. Attempted purchase of crack cocaine, possession of marijuana under 20 grams.
• Michael Hogan, 34, 64 Villa Villar Court, DeLand. Attempted purchase of crack cocaine, possession of marijuana under 20 grams.
• Joseph Bowles, 41, 2421 W. Lake Drive, DeLand. Attempted purchase of crack cocaine, possession of drug paraphernalia.
• Robert Hyatt, 28, 1065 N. Atlantic Ave., Daytona Beach. Attempted purchase of crack cocaine.
• Lavonne Turnage, 36, 101 E. New Hampshire, DeLand. Attempted purchase of a controlled substance.

Note: Darren Chalkley was not booked into the Volusia County Branch Jail in Daytona Beach. However, he will still face the charges listed in above. Chalkley complained of chest pains and was transported to a local hospital for treatment.