Known gang member and two others arrested in drug raid in Spring Hill: MPs

SPRING HILL, Florida. – On Friday, the Hernando County Sheriff's Office Vice and Narcotics Unit, with assistance from the HCSO SWAT team, executed a search warrant in Spring Hill.

While executing the warrant at a home in the 6000 block of Ashland Drive, officers said, Steven James Thurman Cline, 48, sneaked out the back door of the home and was found inside a neighbor's house. During the search, investigators say they found numerous narcotics, seven firearms, a body armor vest and a “police” ballistic (rifle-grade) shield.

According to HCSO, after being read his rights, Cline claimed ownership of the narcotics, firearms, his shield and body armor.

The investigation revealed that the shield and body armor were purchased in “exchange” for drugs, according to the sheriff’s office.

Officials said this was the culmination of a months-long investigation that included multiple traffic stops at the home and arrests for methamphetamine trafficking.

READ: Man arrested for fatal shooting over sock package, police say

Units from Vice and Drug Enforcement, SWAT, Police, Crime Scene Investigation, District Police and Hernando County Police assisted in the investigation.

Cline is a “well-known gang member in Florida” with a long criminal history, according to authorities. Authorities say he has a total of 38 charges and 14 felony convictions against him.

The charges Cline faces as a result of the search warrant include:

• Resistance without violence
• Possession of a firearm/ammunition by a convicted felon (7 firearms)
• Possession of methamphetamine
• Possession of fentanyl
• Possession of a controlled substance (Suboxone)
• Possession of cocaine
• Possession of Alprazolam
• Possession of more than 20 g of marijuana
• Possession of utensils
• Possession of a New Legend drug without a prescription

Ashley Dawn Cline, 37, was also arrested. She was currently on probation for possession of a controlled substance and had a total of six felony charges, according to police.

Based on the search warrant, she is accused of the following charges, among others:

• Violation of drug offender probation conditions
• Possession of methamphetamine
• Possession of fentanyl
• Possession of a controlled substance (Suboxone)
• Possession of cocaine
• Possession of a controlled substance (alprazolam)
• Possession of less than 20 g of marijuana
• Possession of utensils
• Possession of a New Legend drug without a prescription

Darrell Floyd Kearce, 52, was also arrested and charged with:

• Possession of less than 20 g of marijuana
• Possession of utensils

STAY CONNECTED WITH FOX 13 TAMPA: