Sheriff’s Office announces arrest of Sol Fest employee for alleged drug possession

cbreaux@kentsmith.biz

Sol Fest has drawn tons of electronic dance music (EDM) fans to Vortex Spring to dance the night away in the outdoors.

It also meant a busy weekend for law enforcement, who made a multitude of arrests for alleged drug possession. The Holmes County Sheriff’s Office announced the many arrests in continual Facebook posts throughout the festival, which began Thursday, May 2 and is set to conclude Sunday, May 5.

One arrest was even of a Sol Fest employee.

“On May 3, 2024, during security operations at Sol Fest, an individual was arrested for drug possession following a tip-off to a deputy from the Holmes County Sheriff’s Office (HCSO),” one of HCSO’s posts said. “The deputy was informed that a staff member was exhibiting signs of narcotics influence and subsequently made contact with Eric Collier from Tampa. Collier admitted to the deputy that he had been given ketamine by a friend. He voluntarily surrendered the substance and disclosed the presence of more drugs in his cabin.”

Upon investigation, the deputy conducted a consensual search of Collier’s cabin, where additional materials believed to be ketamine, marijuana, and THC gummies were said to be discovered. 

“As a result, Eric Collier was arrested and charged with possession of ketamine, possession of a controlled substance, possession of marijuana, and possession of drug paraphernalia,” the HCSO post said.

Numerous other arrests for alleged possession of drugs and paraphernalia were made by HCSO. Sheriff John Tate before the festival said drug usage would not be tolerated and law enforcement would be out in force during the weekend.