Just over a week ago, Shawn Crawford, 35, was arrested on two charges of possessing a firearm while a convicted felon and on an out-of-county warrant, but he was released on bond 24 hours later. Earlier today, he was arrested again on similar charges, including possession of an AK-47 assault rifle, plus several drug charges.
The man he was staying with for the past two months at 6B Ryall Lane in Palm Coast, Tariq D. Khawaja, 27, was also arrested and charged with tampering with evidence and drug possession. A considerable stash of weapons and ammunition was seized. During the raid, Khawaja is accused of trying to flush marijuana down the toilet. He was not successful.
The arrests take place on the heels of similar arrests–on drug and weapons charges–last Friday in a joint federal, state and local operation targeting individuals dealing drugs and wielding illegal weapons, though Khawaja and Crawford were not among the names authorities were still seeking at the time. Unlike individuals arrested Friday, Crawford has not been charged with federal crimes. His bond is set at $31,000. That of Khawaja is set at $8,000. Sheriff Rick Staly used last week’s arrests to send a message, and did so again today: Investigators are working hard to get “poison peddlers off the streets” and into jail, he was quoted as saying in a release issued earlier today, telling such peddlers to “Take your drugs and guns and get out of Flagler County, because we will find you.”
Crawford’s original address is listed as 15341 NW 31st Avenue in Opa Locka, according to his jail booking. He had been staying at Khawaja’s place for the past two months, occupying a spare bedroom there, where authorities found the assault rifle, an AK-47 magazine, 30 rounds for the weapon, marijuana, various drug tablets and a single .22 caliber round in a black suitcase, among other items. When Crawford was asked about the items, he quickly invoked his right to an attorney, shutting down any further questioning. Some of the material found tested positive for cocaine.
Items were also seized from Khawaja’s master bedroom, including bags of marijuana, MDMA tablets (methamphetamine, also known as ecstasy), a Mossberg 12-gauge shotgun, an EAA .38 special revolver, a Derringer .22 caliber pistol, scores of rounds for various weapons, including 35 AK-47 rounds and 31 rounds from a drum magazine, and 11 rifle magazines.
Some of the pot recovered “was thrown in toilet and and was making it heavier than normal,” an arrest report states. In all, the search allegedly uncovered 260 grams of marijuana, 17 grams of cocaine, 3 MDMA tablets, 14 controlled substance tablets, and the weapons and ammunition.
There were a total of 10 occupants in the residence when the search warrant was served.
ASF says
In a child’s closet…nice.
South Florida says
A piece of crap from one of the worst parts of Miami.
Good job, sheriff Staly. This place is a living seas pool.
Your not safe anywhere.
woody says
Next step is to have some blow back on the landlord.They should know who is renting there houses.This way it keeps the dirt bags moving on and out.
PCer says
From Opa Locka, one of the most drug and gang infested areas of Miami-Dade county. Follow the drugs and weapons back to that source to stop it there. Otherwise there will just be more where that came from.
Nosey Toes says
The question that should be addressed is Why are and have criminals been coming to Flagler County to set up shop? I’ve lived in this town since I was a teen now I’m a middle aged man so please don’t tell me I don’t know what I’m talking about. All one has to do is a little back research on a lot of these arrest and you will note that most are not a product of this community, not that we don’t have some resident wackos that grew up here but once again the question is whats the reason for the continued invasion into Flagler county?
Trailer Bob says
Scumbags. Ship them to North Korea.
Anonymous says
Good job! Get these cymbals out of our County. We don’t want them here.
Sherry says
An AK47 is needed for?
Think of the horror and tragedy in Las Vegas. When will we wake up and understand that military styled automatic weapons and hundreds of rounds of ammunition is NOT a “defensive” arsenal!
GUN SAFETY laws need to be established and implement TODAY!
Chris A Pickett says
What a great place to store a weapon, especially an ak variant, in a child’s room. If you look at the definition of “to bear” at the time the Constitution was written, it means, to have and BE RESPONSIBLE FOR at all times. Then again even if you outlaw all guns, wonderful citizens like these would follow those laws right…….
Anonymous 1 says
GOTTA LOVE PALM COAST!!!
Sw says
Well off to see the Judge again bye bye
MannyHM says
Is it necessary to have a search warrant on ex-felon ?I find it surprising that lots of ex – felons have guns when arrested for other criminal acts.
Tired of it says
And the weak judge will give them light bail and a slap on the wrist. Vote out all the weak spineless judges!
kathy roberts says
It’s not just Palm Coast, it’s Every Town USA. Drug epidemic all over. Now we have the Federal State of Emergency for Opiod Epidemic (as an example) declared recently by Governor Scott. Don’t know how many millions are allocated for that. If people wouldn’t try, buy, get hooked…….there would be no market. That money could be used towards a better purpose. “Just Say No” was the right idea……..as far as helping addicts it seems almost like a waste of money due to recidivism rate. It’s just sad their drug abuse affects many around them; children and family. Otherwise, I’d say just let them O.D. if they insist on wasting the lives they’ve been given. A gun would be quicker or intentional overdose, but they’d rather drag others along the crappy path of drug/alcohol addiction, etc. Actually it pisses me off we have to waste money on people that chose drugs; such a WASTE in my opinion…maybe they didn’t choose to become addicted directly, but indirectly they knowingly did…because they chose to try and apparently tried again several times. INITIAL POINT: Don’t blame Palm Coast ~ it’s happening all over
ASF says
Why are they here? Cheap rents and a reliable base of business.
Oskar Homulka says
I would have to think that if there wasn’t a market for certain drugs, the sellers would move on. Perhaps the users and dealers are only renters
…who knows.
James says
Sherry,
Dont post about things you let your emotions get in the way of a working knowledge of. It makes you look less knowledgeable.