WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (CBS12) — Deputies arrested a West Palm Beach woman Tuesday following a months-long undercover investigation into methamphetamine sales.
According to the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office, 48-year-old Melissa Hale faces multiple felony counts, including methamphetamine trafficking, selling controlled substances near a public park, using a two-way communication device to facilitate a felony, and driving with a suspended license as a habitual offender.
The arrest affidavits released by PBSO outline four undercover narcotics operations conducted between May and July 2026:
- May 21: Undercover detectives arranged a meeting near the Fun Way Arcade and Guitar Center off Okeechobee Boulevard, where PBSO documented a transaction involving 2.3 grams of methamphetamine.
- May 26: Detectives met at the same Okeechobee Boulevard location for a second operation involving 3 grams of methamphetamine.
- June 25: PBSO agents conducted a third purchase at the Fun Way Arcade parking lot, securing 4 grams of methamphetamine.
- July 2: Detectives negotiated an ounce-level transaction. According to records, the location was moved via text message to Acreage Community Park. With PBSO Aviation and Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) units monitoring from above, agents documented the delivery of 29 grams of methamphetamine.
- July 21: Undercover agents scheduled another 29-gram transaction at Acreage Community Park, where surveillance teams observed an additional individual arrive shortly before a white envelope containing crystal meth was turned over to detectives.
Deputies noted that covert audio and video recording equipment was utilized throughout the undercover operations.
The Arrest
On Tuesday afternoon, deputies with the Street Crimes Unit spotted Hale driving along Guava Avenue. Recognizing her and noting a habitual offender license suspension on record, agents followed the vehicle onto Southern Boulevard…