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Backyard drug lab shut down
Repeat drug offender arrested west of Seven Points
Monitor Staff Reports
SEVEN POINTS–Sawed-off shotguns and a large quantity of methamphetamine
in the process of being made were discovered at a residence on Sands
Ranch Road west of Seven Points July 2.
Three suspects were taken into custody and are being held in the county
jail.
It’s the second suspected drug lab found in the vicinity in the last two
weeks.
Acting on a tip, Drug Enforcement investigators Kenny Collard, Ronny
Halbert, Darrell Waller and David Faught sought a search warrant from
Precinct 6 Justice of the Peace Milton Adams.
The tip included information about firearms at the residence, so the
county’s tactical team was on hand to help execute the search warrant.
When all was ready, investigators moved on the house at 30214 County
Road 2428.
Immediately, a white male was seen running from the residence into a
wooded area behind the house. After a short foot chase, he was caught
and identified as Jerry Culver, 27 – someone the DEU is very familiar
with.
Also, inside the house were Zachary Henderson, 31, of Kemp and Alicia
Franks, 40, who were also apprehended without further incident.
During the search, investigators also found a handgun and a five-gallon
propane-like tank, containing anhydrous ammonia, in the woods behind the
house.
Assisting in the action were Gun Barrel City police chief Damon Boswell
and assistant chief Larry Warrick.
All three suspects were charged with manufacture/delivery of a
controlled substance, more than 400 grams, a first degree felony.
Culver and Henderson were also charged with possession of anhydrous
ammonia in an unapproved container, a second degree felony.
In addition, Henderson was charged with procession of a prohibited
weapon, a third degree felony, while Culver was also charged with
possession of a firearm by a felon, a third degree felony, and evading
arrest.
This is the second run-in with the law for Culver over drugs.
In March, Culver was arrested during a traffic stop on similar drug and
gun charges.
A pistol-grip shotgun and up to 200 grams of meth were found in the car
he was driving.
Though his bonds totaled more than $100,000, he was out of jail in two
days.
This time, his bonds are set at more than twice that amount.
This is Henderson’s first major brush with the law. His bond is set at
$160,000.
Franks is being held on $100,000 bond.
Another one bites the dust
Payne Springs is down to one patrol car
until two new ones are delivered next month
By Pearl Cantrell
Monitor Staff Writer
PAYNE SPRINGS–By July 4, the Payne Springs Police Department was without
a working vehicle.
The day before the national holiday, one patrol car was taken off the
street for the replacement of a “fan motor,” and by that evening, the
last working vehicle was wrecked during a pursuit on Leisureland Road.
Officer James East was pursuing a motorcycle when he lost control on a
curve and collided with a metal utility box.
East was transported to the hospital and later released with minor
injuries and a lot of pain.
“His wife believes he may have a broken arm and is taking him back to
the doctor,” councilwoman Linda Carr told The Monitor Monday.
The Payne Springs Fire Rescue Unit responded to the scene.
Just days before the wreck, in a called meeting, the Payne Springs City
Council approved the purchase of two 2010 Crown Victorias from Sam
Pack’s Five Star Ford.
Those in attendance at the June 30 meeting were Mayor pro-tem Rodney
Renberg, Ethel Hagin, Michael McDonald and Carr.
The best bid was quoted at $25,565 for a fully-loaded patrol car.
Citizens State Bank agreed to finance the purchase at 4.25 percent over
48 months, bringing the monthly payments to $1,160.20 for the two cars.
The city is putting up a $5,801 down payment.
The cars are expected to be ready the end of August or the beginning of
September, police chief Chris Meyers said.
In other business, council members:
• amended the budget to add $10,801 to the police department for the
down payment on the vehicle purchase and $5,000 for car maintenance.
• amended the fireworks ordinance to expand the hours in which fireworks
could legally be discharged in the city.
Now, fireworks may be discharged until 2 a.m. July 5. The change came at
the request of Johnny Brandon of Fat Man’s Fireworks, who provides a
fireworks show every July 4 after closing his stand on State Highway
198.
The same extension, until 2 a.m., was given for New Year’s Eve.
Tip leads to child porn
Monitor Staff Reports
TOOL–A Colorado man is being held under $100,000 bond after Tool and
Henderson County officers discovered child pornography while executing a
search warrant Friday.
Tool Police Department Sgt. Rick Simmons received a tip that Robert
Leroy Baldwin, 24, of Colorado, was in possession of child pornography
at a residence in the Cedar Crest Shores subdivision.
Simmons contacted Henderson County District Attorney’s Investigator Jody
Miller, and, accompanied by Assistant DA Bridget Bateman, the three
prepared a search warrant for the residence, which was authorized by
392nd District Judge Carter Tarrance.
Simmons, along with TPD officers Tonie Nichols and Cpl. Raymond
Wennerstorm, along with DA Scott McKee, executed the warrant around 8:30
p.m. Friday, according to a news release issued Monday by McKee.
Baldwin was taken into custody without incident and transported to the
Henderson County Jail, with bond set at $100,000.
During the search, additional DVDs containing child pornography were
discovered, McKee reported.
McKee said his office will be seeking assistance from the FBI to
ascertain the original source of the video material found in the home. |