PORT CHARLOTTE MAN CHARGED WITH TRAFFICKING

A PORT CHARLOTTE MAN WAS ARRESTED WEDNESDAY ON A WARRANT OUT OF CHARLOTTE COUNTY.   DEPUTIES SAY THEY RECEIVED A TIP THAT 36 YEAR OLD BERNARDO “BJ” BAPTIST WAS STAYING AT A HOME ON MAMOUTH STREET IN ENGLEWOOD EAST, AND THE OWNER GAVE NARCOTICS DETECTIVES PERMISSION TO PERFORM A SEARCH.  BAPTIST AND HER GIRLFRIEND RENTED A ROOM IN THE HOUSE AND THE GIRLFRIEND SIGNED A WAIVER TO SEARCH THE BEDROOM.  DETECTIVES FOUND OXYCODONE, COCAINE, PERCOCET, AND ADDERALL PILLS ALONG WITH SEVERAL PARAPHERNALIA ITEMS AND A STOLEN TELEVISION.  A CANINE UNIT WAS CALLED AND THE DOG ALERTED TO A PICKUP TRUCK IN THE DRIVEWAY WHICH BELONGED TO THE HOMEOWNER.  SHE TOLD DEPUTIES SHE HAS NOT DRIVEN HER PICKUP AND GAVE THE KEYS TO BAPTIST TO USE IN THE LAST EIGHT DAYS.  MORE DRUGS, GUNS AND AMMO WERE FOUND INSIDE.  BAPTIST, A CONVICTED FELON, WAS BOOKED ON ELEVEN DIFFERENT CHARGES AND IS BEING HELD WITHOUT BOND IN THE CHARLOTTE COUNTY JAIL.