Search Warrant Leads To Arrest, Meth Seized

BEN WHEELER—The investigation continues after law enforcement officials executed a search warrant at the home of Ronald Jack Edwards, 52, Ben Wheeler, last Thursday morning and found methamphetamines.

The Van Zandt County Sheriff’s Office, along with several other law enforcement agencies, executed the warrant and found more than five pounds of methamphetamines at the location and another five pounds was found at two additional locations.

Edwards was arrested at the scene and charged with manufacture/delivery of a controlled substance. He may now be facing additional charges and his property could be seized by the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA).

Van Zandt County Narcotics Investigator Rusty Grimes said the residence was located approximately two miles outside of Ben Wheeler on State Highway 64.

"We had received information that methamphetamines were being sold at this location. We had been actively investigating the site for three to four months," said Grimes.

Grimes said that the sheriff’s office contacted the DEA office in Tyler and that the DEA had also been involved in the case.

Grimes said the search warrant, signed by a federal magistrate in Tyler, was executed at approximately 9 a.m. last Thursday morning.

"We were assisted by the Smith County SWAT team due to the potential danger involved in a situation like this," said Grimes.

Also on the scene was Canton Police Department Narcotics Officer James Bradshaw, the Upshur County K-9 Unit and Smith County Precinct 5 Deputy Constable Mark Waters and his K-9 unit.

Grimes said officers found three pounds of methamphetines in a shop area on the property and another two pounds buried at the location.

"We also knew of a delivery that was to be made to the residence by Edwards’ supplier out of Dallas. That supplier was stopped on a traffic stop and he was in possession of an additional three pounds," said Grimes.

Grimes also said that the supplier gave up a location in Dallas where another two pounds was being kept. Officers recovered that as well.

"We also found $10,000 at the residence and discovered that another $120,000 was being kept in a hidden bank account," said Grimes.

"Edwards was a major supplier for Van Zandt, Smith and Henderson counties. Sometimes these lengthy investigations are frustrating for us but it is important not to move on the case until an arrest can be made. It’s not just about recovering the drugs," said Grimes.

Grimes urged anyone with information regarding narcotics crimes in the county to call the sheriff’s office at 903-567-4133 or Van Zandt County Crimestoppers at 903-567-STOP.