Cape Coral SWAT busts drug dealer near elementary school

CAPE CORAL, Fla. (WINK)—Cape Coral police arrested a man accused of selling drugs less than 1,000 feet from Pelican Elementary School.

A SWAT team raided a home on Southwest 33rd Terrace and arrested Andrew Horner for allegedly selling LSD, Xanax, mushrooms and other drugs. 

Hannah Wheeler was also arrested for having a pipe.

The investigation began weeks ago after police received a tip about drug activity near the school. That tip led to an undercover operation.

"In March, our narcotics unit did two undercover buys with this particular suspect," said Lisa Greenberg, Cape Coral Police Department public affairs officer. "The suspect did sell methamphetamine and MDMA."

The undercover purchases led officers to obtain a search warrant and conduct the SWAT raid. Police said the proximity to children made this case especially concerning.

"It was within 1,000 feet of an elementary school," Greenberg said.

Keri Knoff, a mother of three who lives nearby, said she was caught off guard by the arrests.

"I was kind of shocked that you're near a school," Knoff said. "There are children here that ride their bikes, so it was a little alarming."

Knoff said the incident has prompted new conversations with her children about staying safe. She is now making sure her kids know to stay alert.

"Don't talk to everybody and let me know if you see anything not right," Knoff said.

The Lee County School District said students were not impacted by the incident. The district said it has multiple layers of security and notifies parents if off-campus incidents affect the school.

Police are urging people to report any suspicious activity, saying that's exactly what helped them make these arrests.