Bradenton Man Arrested in SWAT Raid; Drugs, Guns, and Cash Seized

Bradenton Police arrested Brent Bernard Williams, 60, on Wednesday after serving a search warrant at his residence off 23rd Street East. The operation, carried out by the department’s Crime Reduction Team and SWAT unit, followed an ongoing investigation linking Williams to drug trafficking.

During the search, officers recovered 213 grams of cocaine, 56 grams of marijuana, two firearms, and $3,800 in cash. Williams now faces charges of cocaine trafficking, destroying or tampering with evidence, and possession of a controlled substance with intent to sell within 1,000 feet of a house of worship. Authorities said additional charges may be filed due to his prior criminal history.

Court records show Williams has 12 prior felony convictions, including a 1999 sentence of 15 years in prison for selling cocaine, as well as multiple earlier drug-related offenses dating back to the 1980s.

As of Thursday afternoon, Williams remained in custody without bond at the Manatee County Jail.