A Riviera Beach drug raid ended in a way that likely made every man on the block wince. Police SWAT officers arrested 35-year-old Dontay Bartley on Monday after executing a search warrant at a home on West 27th Street in Riviera Beach. Deputies say that during the entry, Bartley refused to comply with commands and tried to hide behind a wall before an agent used a non-lethal launcher to strike him in the groin and take him into custody. Officers later reported finding a large quantity of suspected narcotics and trafficking paraphernalia at the house and in a vehicle tied to Bartley. He denies owning the drugs. Bond has been set at $21,000 and he faces multiple counts, according to officials.
What officers say they found
Deputies reported recovering roughly 544 grams of suspected marijuana, digital scales, packaging materials and a stash of cash at the West 27th Street residence. They said a search of Bartley's Mercedes-Benz turned up multiple quantities of suspected cocaine and a seven-gram white, rock-like substance, as reported by WPEC (CBS12). The agency described the amount of drugs and the packaging as consistent with possession with intent to sell. According to the report, Bartley was read his Miranda rights and denied ownership of the seized items.
How deputies used force
The sheriff's office says it deployed its SWAT team for the search, and its 2024 annual report notes that PBSO tracks use-of-force incidents and catalogs the types of impact munitions and other non-lethal tools its units may employ, offering context for the launcher used in this case. That annual report details the agency's internal-affairs review process and the categories of force, such as 40mm impact projectiles, that are recorded after search-warrant operations. The Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office says each use-of-force incident is reviewed to determine whether policy and training were followed.
Charges and booking
Bartley was arrested on Monday and has been accused of possession with intent to sell several controlled substances, obstruction without violence and maintaining a drug nuisance structure, with bond set at $21,000, according to WPEC (CBS12). Prosecutors are expected to review the evidence before filing any formal charges, and for now the allegations remain pending in court. Statements from the defense or prosecutors were not immediately available.
Local context
Riviera Beach has grappled with violent incidents in recent months, including a March shooting in the Azure Estates community that left one person dead and four others injured, a backdrop local officials often cite when talking about public-safety priorities. The raid and seizure of a sizable drug stash highlight ongoing efforts by county and municipal law enforcement to target alleged narcotics hotspots in the area. Neighbors and civic leaders have pushed for more visible policing and nuisance-abatement work in hard-hit blocks, as noted by WPBF.
What's next
The sheriff's office says the investigation remains active and detectives will forward their findings to the State Attorney's Office for charging decisions. Court records will show whether prosecutors file formal charges and when Bartley appears for an initial hearing. Until then, the allegations remain accusations. Officials are asking anyone with information to contact PBSO tip lines.
