On September 9, 2023, detectives with the Fort Walton Beach Police Department’s Special Investigations Unit executed a search warrant at the Circle K Gas Station located at 65 Miracle Strip Pkwy SE.

An extensive ongoing investigation led detectives to suspect a store employee, Joanne Faulkner, (48) of Fort Walton Beach was distributing fentanyl from inside the store.

During the investigation, several non-fatal drug overdoses occurred in the area surrounding the store, according to the report. The investigation eventually led detectives to seek a search warrant.

• During the search, detectives located sixteen individual bags, eight containing fentanyl, and eight containing methamphetamines.

Joanne Faulker was arrested and charged with:

• Possession of fentanyl with intent to distribute within 1000 feet of a church.
• Possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute within 1000 feet of a church.
• Sale, manufacture, or delivery of fentanyl within 1000 feet of a church.

Anyone with additional information on this case or any other narcotic related case is encouraged to contact the Fort Walton Beach Police Department at 850-833-9546 or the Emerald Coast Crime Stoppers at 850-863-8477