- December 16, 2025
The Flagler County Sheriff’s Office Narcotics Enforcement Team arrested three people in the past two days in connection with possession and trafficking of heroin, seizing more than $26,000 worth of the drug.
According to the Sheriff’s Office, the crimes may be an effect of recent legislation aimed at reducing the flow of prescription pain medication in the state. Since the legislation, several pain clinics, or “pill mills,” have been shut down. The dispensing of these medications has also been limited.
In the first two months of 2011, detectives noticed very little heroin activity within the county. At that time, oxycodone pills, mostly roxicodone 30 mg pills, were plentiful and undercover detectives were purchasing them on the street for prices ranging between $13 and $17 per pill. These medications were being funneled into the county mostly from South, Central and North Florida.
During the past several months, however, detectives have noted that there has been a spike in the price for roxicodone, with detectives now paying $25 or more per pill.
During this same period, the detectives have noticed an increase in the local distribution and consumption of heroin.
“Detectives have identified an organization that is a major distributor of heroin in the area. There will be more arrests in connection with this organized crime ring,” said Flagler County Sheriff Donald W. Fleming. “We are committed to protecting our community from this attempt to do business in our county.”
Two of the arrests came Saturday, Feb. 11, after detectives witnessed them purchase heroin in the parking lot of a local restaurant. The exchange took place around 4:30 p.m.
Jason Hanson, 28, of 7 Pine Grove Drive, and Dennis Chervyakov, 32, of 6 Pillar Lane, were charged with possession of heroin.
The morning of Feb. 13, Edward McLaughlin, 29, of 1911 County Road 75, Bunnell, was arrested for trafficking more than 14 grams of heroin. Deputies stopped him as he traveled southbound on Interstate 95 near the 289 mile marker in Flagler County. Detectives, who had McLaughlin under surveillance, said he was transporting the heroin from South Carolina to his Bunnell home.
He was being held in the Flagler County Inmate Facility Monday afternoon on no bond.
“This one charge carries a minimum mandatory prison term of 15 years if convicted,” Fleming said. “This man is a major player in the distribution ring.”
