Nehilah Grand-Pierre
•7/2/2026
Cape Coral police's SWAT team raided a home on Northwest 8th Terrace, seizing 500 grams of methamphetamine, pills, and marijuana, and arresting Joseph Evans, who faces a capital felony and other drug-related charges.
Frank Lucero, a neighbor, shared his concerns about the raid.
"Well, it's alarming. You know, I'm taking my grandchild through there, and who knows what could happen. Let's say there's an altercation of some type and bullets are flying. I mean, God forbid it hit my grandson or myself. So not good," Lucero said.
Cape Coral police released photos of the drugs seized from Evans' home and confirmed this was not his first encounter with law enforcement.
"We had charges on him. Which is why we also believed that there were going to be narcotics in the residence. So we had those prior charges, and then we added a lot of new ones to include the capital, capital felony for methamphetamine," Officer Mercedes Simonds of the Cape Coral Police Department said.
Neighbors said they noticed police activity while heading to work or during their morning routines.
"He's going away for a while, I'm assuming. Yeah. That is absolutely insane. It can happen anywhere. It just goes to show it doesn't matter. You know where you are," said Pallon, a resident of Cape Coral.
Cape Coral police reminded residents to stay aware of what may be happening in their neighborhoods.
The Cape Coral Police Department said it seized the following:
Authorities added that Evans had prior drug-related charges, which led to the warrant for his home. Cape Coral police described the operation as one of their larger drug busts.
Evans is facing charges of trafficking in methamphetamine (a capital felony), possession of a controlled substance with intent to sell (Xanax) (a first-degree felony), and possession of drug paraphernalia (a first-degree misdemeanor).
