CLEVELAND, Texas (AP) – Four people have been arrested after Texas authorities raided a rural compound that investigators allege is tied to drug smuggling operation at a county jail.
The San Jacinto County Sheriff’s Office says authorities raided the compound early Wednesday morning after an investigation traced illegal drugs from the house to inmates at the county jail.
All four suspects – a 17-year-old male, a 57-year-old man, a 21-year-old woman and a 47-year-old woman – face various charges, including the manufacture and delivery of a controlled substance.
Authorities also found two young children living in squalor at the compound, located about 50 miles north of Houston.
Also found were 80 fighting roosters, seven dogs who were chained to trees and one horse. All the animals were in poor health.
OVER 50 OFFICERS INVOLVED IN MULTI-COUNTY SWAT SCENE
When San Jacinto County Sheriff Capers learned there was meth being smuggled into his jail he immediately ordered a full investigation. During the investigation, they learned that the drugs were being dropped on the outside and smuggled in. Surveillance was set up and a vehicle was seen that was involved. When the address was checked on the vehicle registration it came back to Lee Road in southeast San Jacinto County off FM 2025. It was also determined that another person residing at that home was currently in the San Jacinto County Jail. It was the same house on what is described as a multi-building compound.that had been under the eye of detectives already. Additional information was gathered. The Sheriff shut down the Trustee Program and put full efforts into the compound. They had information that besides drugs there was a large number of guns and ammunition. Sheriff Capers contacted Harris And Montgomery County Sheriff's and asked for the help of their SWAT teams. Harris County responded along with Montgomery County and Montgomery County Hospital District. Harris County also sent their helicopter and SWAT vehicles. Montgomery County sent a SWAT vehicle. In all over 50 deputies moved into the compound at 4 am Wednesday morning, with a helicopter overhead they made entry and arrested at least 7 persons believed to be Hispanic. In addition, there were 2 young children in the home. Captain Schulte with the San Jacinto County Sheriff's Office described the property as making Sanford and Sons, junkyard look orderly. They will be searching most of the morning for narcotics and weapons and checking all the vehicles on the property for stolen.
Posted by Montgomery County Police Reporter on Wednesday, September 5, 2018
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