Operation “Capital City Crack Down” seizes over $150,000 in narcotics, recovers firearms, and leads to a murder charge.
POLK COUNTY, Fla. – A yearlong investigation dubbed “Operation Capital City Crack Down” has culminated in the arrest of 32 individuals and the complete dismantling of a major drug trafficking organization operating out of Bartow, Florida. The multi-agency effort, led by the Polk County Sheriff’s Office (PCSO), resulted in the seizure of a wide array of illegal drugs, cash, firearms, and other assets.
The investigation, which began in August 2024, was a collaborative effort between the PCSO Tactical Drug Unit, Organized Crime Unit, and the High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) Task Force. They were joined by numerous state and federal partners, including the State Attorney’s Office, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the FBI, and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE).
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Detectives identified Nathaniel “Nate” Donald, Bryan “B” Myrick, and Isaiah “Bubba” Donald as key players in the criminal enterprise. Myrick, a convicted felon, had been released from prison in 2021 for a prior cocaine trafficking offense.
The investigation uncovered a tragic incident from September 2024, where a narcotics transaction arranged by a supplier, Troy Walker, led to the death of Irene Anderson from acute cocaine toxicity. Based on the medical examiner’s findings, a grand jury indicted Walker for First Degree Murder in August 2025.
Law enforcement served eight search warrants across the county and one in Orange County, resulting in the apprehension of all 32 suspects. The seized narcotics have an estimated street value of $150,000. Among the items confiscated were 22 pounds of marijuana, 1.5 pounds of cocaine, 26.72 grams of Fentanyl—enough to kill over 13,000 people—and four firearms, some recovered from convicted felons.
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The combined criminal histories of the arrested individuals total 554 previous felony charges and 394 misdemeanors. One of the suspects, a Venezuelan national, was in the country illegally, and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has been notified.
Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd praised the operation’s success, stating, “This investigation shows exactly how dangerous and far-reaching these drug trafficking networks have become. We’re not just talking about illegal narcotics—we’re talking about deadly fentanyl, firearms in the hands of convicted felons, and a supplier now charged with murder. Thanks to the relentless work of our detectives and partner agencies, 32 suspects are off the streets and this criminal organization has been dismantled.”
In addition to the drugs and firearms, authorities seized over $7,000 in cash and $46,500 in assets, including jewelry. The list of those arrested includes the three key suspects and Troy Walker, who faces a First Degree Murder charge, along with dozens of others facing various charges, including trafficking, conspiracy, and possession of illegal narcotics.
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