On May 18, at 6:50 p.m., Cape Coral Police Narcotics Detectives arrested four people on drug trafficking charges.
Those arrested were Elizabeth Melody Jaine Bruner, 19, of 2551 S.W. 28th Place, Cape Coral, who was charged with sale of opium derivative, trafficking an opium derivative, possession of a controlled substance and possession of cannabis less than 20 grams; David Alan Welch Jr., 24, of 3015 S.W. 29th Place, Cape Coral, who was charged with trafficking an opium derivative and possession of cannabis less than 20 grams; James Bernard Huggins III, 22, of 5004 24th St., W., Brandenton, who was charged with trafficking of an opium derivative and possession of cannabis less than 20 grams; and Charles Samuel Bruner, 58,, of 2551 S.W. 28th Place, Cape Coral, who was charged with sale of an opium derivative and trafficking an opium derivative.
According to a report from the Cape Police Department, officers, with the cooperation of a confidential source, made arrangements to purchase 50 Oxycodone pills from Melody Bruner for $650 in the parking lot of a convenience store on Skyline Boulevard. The report indicates Bruner arrived with Welch and Huggins and completed the drug deal with the confidential source.
Upon completion of the transaction, police took Bruner, Welch and James Huggins into custody without incident.
According to the report, the investigation revealed the following: Melody Bruner brokered the pill deal; Welch sold the pills and was in possession of recorded expenditure money; and Huggins held onto 20 pills until Welch verified he had all the money and then handed the remainder to the undercover.
As detectives were preparing to leave the scene, Melody’s father, Charles Bruner, reported arrived wanting to know why his daughter was arrested. The report indicates that on March 17 narcotics detectives reportedly purchased 6 morphine pills from Mr. Bruner at his residence. He was placed under arrest for this open charge and a subsequent search of his wallet revealed 42 morphine pills.