Ex-Seabrook man faces new drug raps

By Susan Morse
smorse@seacoastonline.com

SEABROOK - Former Seabrook resident Ivan Q. Eaton Jr., 49, free on bail in Key West, Fla., on drug charges, was again arrested Feb. 26 for alleged heroin trafficking, grand theft of a restaurant’s mermaid statue, and possession of cocaine, heroin and other controlled substances.

The Monroe County, Fla., sheriff’s office arrested Eaton, of 29072 Cedar Lane, Big Pine Key, after Keys law-enforcement officers allegedly saw him take possession of 38 grams of heroin from another man in a parking lot, according to a statement from the Monroe County Sheriff’s office.

Eaton posted bond of $425,000 and was released on Feb. 29, according to Deputy Becky Herrin. He is scheduled to appear in Key West Circuit Court for arraignment on Tuesday, March 9.

Asked if Eaton posed a flight risk considering his ties to Seabrook, Herrin said, "That’s what bonds are for."

Seabrook Police Chief Bill Baker declined to give information on any possible local investigation of Eaton.

"I refuse to comment on an ongoing criminal investigation," he said.

During the afternoon of Eaton’s arrest, Key West detectives searched Eaton’s Cedar Lane home and found a wooden mermaid statute, which had been reportedly stolen from Boondock’s Restaurant in Ramrod Key in May 2000, according to information released by the sheriff’s office. Detectives found the statue at the top of a stairwell inside Eaton’s home.

The carved wooden statue, valued at about $500, will be returned to its owner.

During the course of the search, detectives also found cocaine, heroin, Xanax and other controlled substances, along with several items of drug paraphernalia.

A Black Ford Excursion was seized from Eaton for possible forfeiture, along with $1,500 in cash.

At the time of his arrest. Eaton was out on a $75,000 bond after a Nov. 19 arrest in Key West on charges of possession of a controlled substance, possession with intent to sell cocaine and possession of drug paraphernalia. He was arraigned on those charges Dec. 9.

It is unknown what ties Eaton, who opened Leather n’ Lace and Up in Smoke in Eaton Plaza, still has to Seabrook. He was scheduled to appear in Rockingham County Superior Court on Feb. 9 to appeal his Portsmouth District Court conviction of distributing drug paraphernalia from his Portsmouth store, Up In Smoke 2. Police raided the shop in 2002. The court date was postponed.

Ivan Q. Eaton Sr., Eaton’s father and former Seabrook selectman, refused comment. No one from Leather n’ Lace returned phone calls.

Eaton’s arrest on Feb. 26 followed a joint investigation by the Sheriff’s Special Investigations detectives, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement and The Drug Enforcement Administration.

Police also arrested 53-year-old Joseph Pickett in a parking lot on Summerland Key, after Eaton allegedly paid Pickett for the drugs. Pickett was the target of a three-month investigation by Keys law-enforcement agencies and was charged with three outstanding warrants, two for sale of heroin and one for trafficking in the drug.

During the course of the investigation into Pickett’s activities, detectives seized a Harley-Davidson motorcycle.

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