Fentanyl Supplier Arrested After I-95 Chase in St. Lucie

James Arthur Green, 43, faces trafficking and drug charges after a weeks-long narcotics investigation by the St. Lucie County Sheriff's Office connected him to a fatal fentanyl overdose.

Detectives conducted multiple undercover drug purchases, then used the deceased victim's cellphone on October 13 to order fentanyl. Green delivered approximately two grams to the victim's residence. Later that day, he participated in another transaction involving two ounces of fentanyl and one pound of methamphetamine.

When detectives moved to arrest Green, he fled and struck a sheriff's vehicle before driving onto southbound I-95. The chase reached speeds of approximately 115 mph across Palm Beach, St. Lucie and Martin counties. Green threw suspected narcotics and a cellphone from his vehicle during the pursuit.

Florida Highway Patrol troopers deployed stop sticks and performed a PIT maneuver near Kanner Highway in Martin County, ending the chase. Investigators recovered the methamphetamine and fentanyl from the controlled purchase, plus an additional 22 grams of methamphetamine, two grams of crack cocaine and one gram of fentanyl.

The St. Lucie County Sheriff's Office charged Green with trafficking fentanyl and cocaine, four counts of trafficking methamphetamine, sale of cocaine and unlawful use of a two-way communication device. The Florida Highway Patrol added two counts of aggravated battery on a law enforcement officer, trafficking fentanyl and methamphetamine, two counts of fleeing and eluding, tampering with evidence, reckless driving, dangerous excessive speeding and resisting an officer without violence.

Green was out on bond for an unrelated Miami-Dade County case when arrested. He is held without bond in the St. Lucie County Jail.