A Wildwood man was arrested for violating his probation after admitting to having a loaded firearm in his closet.
Florida State Probation and Parole Officers along with members of law enforcement responded to a residence on Mill Street around 7 p.m. Friday, according to an arrest report from the Wildwood Police Department. They were checking the residence for 40-year-old Emerson Bernard Turks who was on active probation for possession of cocaine until June 20.
Upon arrival, they met with his girlfriend and asked if there were any narcotics or weapons in the home. She stated there was medical marijuana and a firearm inside. Turks then advised that the firearm was on the top shelf of a closet inside the couple’s room, the report said.
A search of the bedroom revealed a red and blue Reebok shoe box containing a silver Smith & Wesson SD 9VE hangun. It was loaded with a magazine containing 15 9mm luger rounds, the report said.
However, Turks was a convicted felon who should not have a firearm in his possession. His convictions date back to 2008 and include possession of narcotics with intent to sell, sale of narcotics within 100 ft of a daycare, manufacturing cocaine, sale of cocaine, unlawful use of a two-way communication device, grand theft, uttering a false bank bill/note/check/draft, driving while license suspended/revoked/cancelled (habitual traffic offender) and possession of cocaine, the report said.
Turks was ultimately arrested on charges of violation of probation and possession of weapon or ammo by convicted felon. He was transported to the Sumter County Detention Center to be held without bond.
He was also arrested in 2024 after allegedly tossing crack cocaine out of a car window.