Recently Released Felon Arrested for Selling Fentanyl, Cocaine Outside Carver Gym

On the evening of May 6, at approximately 7:40 p.m., Corporal Green observed a white Nissan sedan with dark window tint exit the parking lot of Carver Gym in Bunnell without coming to a complete stop. The vehicle was previously observed in the parking lot around other subjects near picnic tables that are known to law enforcement as a location prone to drug deals.

Through the windshield, Cpl. Green observed a black male driving with a fanny pack strapped across his chest. After circling the block, Cpl. Green observed a man matching the driver’s appearance walking southbound on South Church Street, still wearing the fanny pack. He attempted to stop him based on the previous traffic infraction and gave verbal commands to him, but the man fled on foot. Cpl. Green pursued the subject, watching as he tossed several objects as he ran toward a wooded area on the corner of Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue and South Pine Street. Cpl. Green was joined by Deputy Schmidt, who gave verbal commands for the subject to exit the woods. He followed those commands and was taken into custody where he was later identified as Gaines Smith Jr., 26, of Bunnell.

Cpl. Green canvassed the wooded area and located the fanny pack Smith had in his possession at the time of the stop and during the traffic infraction. The bag contained approximately 6 grams of a white-rock substance in a plastic bag that tested positive for cocaine, and 2.5 grams of a brown substance that tested positive for fentanyl, which was enough to potentially kill 1,250 people.

During a search of the suspect’s vehicle, deputies located a white rock-like substance under the driver’s seat which tested positive for a cathinone identified as mephedrone, and in the center console found a 5 milligram pill identified as oxycodone.

Smith was arrested for Possession of Fentanyl with Intent to Distribute within 1000 Feet of a Park, Possession of Cocaine with Intent to Distribute within 1000 Feet of a Park, Possession of Synthetic Cathinone, Possession of Oxycodone, two counts of Tampering with Evidence, Driving with a Suspended License with Knowledge, and Resisting an Officer without Violence.

He was transported to the Sheriff Perry Hall Inmate Detention Facility where he is currently being held on $38,500 bond.

Smith has been arrested numerous times by Flagler County deputies on a variety of drug and weapon-related charges since 2016 when he was 19 years old. Most notably, in 2021, while still on probation, he was arrested in connection to a shooting spree in Bunnell that targeted two women with their children. He was convicted of Felony Violation of Probation, Firearm Discharge in Public, two counts of Assault with a Deadly Weapon without Intent to Kill, and served three years in prison. He was released from prison on March 19, 2024.

“It’s astonishing that this career criminal and convicted felon was released from prison only two months ago and went right back to peddling his deadly poison—outside a gymnasium where children play,” said Sheriff Rick Staly. “He did everything he could to evade arrest and hide evidence, but in the end our persistent and thorough deputies were able to take him back to the Green Roof Inn. He needs to go back to prison before he sells a deadly dose of poison.”