Man charged with trafficking heroin

A Palmetto man already facing drug possession charges, is being held without bond after being rearrested and charged with armed trafficking in heroin.

Larren Wade, 40, was arrested Tuesday after detectives obtained a warrant charging him with armed trafficking and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon earlier this month. Wade is being held without bond at the Manatee County jail.

Wade appeared before a judge Wednesday afternoon who ordered a Nebbia hearing, during which the defense will have to prove the source of any money before a bond can be set or posted, according to court records.

Detectives seized six bags of heroin weighing a total of 24.2 grams, a loaded .357 Smith and Wesson revolver and a Gucci wallet with two driver’s licenses belonging from a car Wade was driving in October.

Detectives on Oct. 20 seized the car, which Wade had been driving, during a surveillance operation by the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office targeting heroin dealers due to a spike in overdoses.

Detectives were able to listen in to calls made with a phone previously identified as Wade’s, after a judge signed an order allowing the phone to be tapped. Moments after getting into the car, a phone call was made in which Wade was asked to come to a Marathon gas station. He said he had “expletive” in the car and couldn’t be driving around in circles.

Wade pulled into the Avesta Treesdale Apartments moments later and met with someone else in a stairwell for a few minutes, according to the affidavit. Detectives then saw Wade get back into the car, pulling out while the other person walked way.

Detectives followed Wade as he drove to a fish market, before pulling into the driveway of the home of a known associate of his, the report states. Wade knocked on the front door and paced back and forth before eventually walking away from the home.

As detectives were seizing the car, another suspect arrived at the home, according to the affidavit. That suspect then call Wade to tell him detectives were running the vehicle’s identification number and wanted to talk to the driver.

Wade told the other suspect he had spotted the undercover detectives and that’s why he didn’t want to get out with the stuff.

Ten days later, after obtaining a search warrant for the car, detectives found the heroin, gun, wallet and a document stating that Wade’s driver’s license had been reinstated.

Wade was already out on bonds totaling $15,000 for charges of possession of heroin, possession of rock cocaine and two counts of violation of probation. His prior convictions include for sale of cocaine, possession of cocaine, possession of rock cocaine and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.

This story was originally published August 17, 2016 at 4:54 PM with the headline "Man charged with trafficking heroin."