I’m pleased to report that the Ellis County Sheriff’s Office’s Special Investigation Unit (Narcotics) continues to serve our community well by filing criminal cases, making arrests and seizing drugs from the criminals who try to do business in our county.
During 2016, our SIU worked 136 felony cases, 104 misdemeanor cases and two cases involving found property. These cases were worked across Ellis County and resulted in the seizure of $549,079 worth of illegal drugs.
The list of seized drugs includes almost 43 pounds of methamphetamine, which carried a street value of $457,614, and about 446 gross grams of cocaine, with a street value of more than $40,000. The list doesn’t stop there, with more than $11,000 worth of marijuana seized. The other illegal drugs seized included crack, THC (hashish), heroin, K2 and MDMA.
Our SIU also was involved in the seizure of pharmaceutical drugs that were being illegally trafficked, with 277.5 doses of drugs with names ranging from Adderall to Zolpidem. From these numbers, I hope you understand why we encourage everyone to participate in the semi-annual drug take back events that allow you to drop off – with no questions asked – any unused or expired over-the-counter or prescription medications.
If you can’t make one of the drug take back events, I’d like to remind you about the five permanent drop box locations where you can safely dispose of these medications during normal business hours:
• Ellis County Constable Pct. 1 Office, 207 S. Sonoma Trail, Ennis
• Italy Police Department, 161 W. Main St., Italy
• Midlothian Police Department, 1150 N. U.S. Highway 67, Midlothian
• Red Oak Police Department, 547 N. Methodist St., Red Oak
• Waxahachie Police Department, 216 N. College St., Waxahachie
In addition to all of the drug seizures made during 2016, our SIU also confiscated $8,974 in cash, two vehicles and four weapons relating to the criminal activity. Since 2009, our SIU has filed 1,958 criminal cases, made 1,482 arrests, recovered 46 guns from criminals and removed more than $71.5 million worth of drugs from our streets.
I believe our SIU’s success speaks for itself as to the job it is doing in helping make Ellis County a safer place and one where we want to raise our families and enjoy our neighbors. I couldn’t be prouder of what it accomplishes on your behalf, year in and year out.
Please, everyone, let’s keep our military and service personnel in our thoughts and prayers. We enjoy our rights and freedoms because of their service and safekeeping of our great nation. Y’all have a Blessed Week.
Johnny Brown has served as Sheriff of Ellis County since Jan. 1, 2009, and is a graduate of the National Sheriff’s Institute. He has been in law enforcement for more than 20 years and holds a Master’s Peace Officer’s Certificate with the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement Officer Standards and Education.
