Hernando deputies shut down active drug house, make arrests

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Working on a search warrant Wednesday afternoon, Hernando County Vice and Narcotics deputies arrested three repeat offenders and shut down an active drug house hidden in an apartment complex.

One of those arrested, Eugene Early, 61, has been on their radar, in and out of jail, since 1982.

He, Francina Early and Zachary Zelensky were booked into Hernando County Jail on several drug-related charges.

"Hopefully, we won't have to deal with them again for a while," Sheriff Al Nienhuis said. "They were doing a lot of business out of this apartment, so we got complaints and, of course, we started working those complaints."

For months, narcotics detectives watched dozens of people in and out of apartment number 31 at Oak Park Apartments on Hale Avenue.

Wednesday during the raid, deputies found crack cocaine, marijuana and drug paraphernalia inside.

Neighbors said, it may seem like a small drug bust, but it means a lot to them to have a clean neighborhood for the many kids that live there.

"There isn't all that traffic going on down there, and you know, everything is just over with, and kids are safe now," Tracey Golden said.