Vero Beach Police Officers responded to 16th Street and Old Dixie Highway in reference to an unresponsive motorist at the traffic light. Responding officers arrived on scene and located a white male, later identified as Burnell Heiges Emlet III, slumped behind the wheel of a red Toyota sedan.
Upon making contact with Emlet officers observed signs of intoxication and asked Emlet to exit the vehicle. Upon exiting the vehicle officers observed a bulge under Emlet’s shirt.
When officers inquired about the bulge Emlet stated that he had a concealed pistol under his shirt and that he did not have a concealed weapon permit. Officers subsequently seized an FN semi-automatic pistol which was loaded with 21 live rounds; a computer check revealed that Emlet was a convicted felon.
Emlet submitted to field sobriety exercises and was subsequently placed under arrest for driving under the influence.
A search of Emlet’s person incident to arrest yielded seventy-four (74) individually wrapped packages containing an off-white powder. Special Investigation Unit Detectives responded to the scene to assist. A field test of the off-white powder determined the substance contained Fentanyl. The seventy-four packages of Fentanyl were later weighed as evidence and found to have a total weight of 7.7 grams.
Burnell Heiges, Emlet III, age 32, of 5809 Killarney Avenue, Fort Pierce, FL was arrested and charged with the following offenses:
- Trafficking in Fentanyl; more than 4 grams
- Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon
- Driving Under the Influence
- Carrying a Concealed Firearm
Emlet was booked at the Vero Beach Police Department and is currently behind held in the custody of the Indian River County Jail with bonds totaling $51,000.00.