Breckenridge Texan

A two-year multi-agency drug investigation resulted in the arrest of six Stephens County and Breckenridge residents this afternoon, Friday, April 5.

According to a new release, members of the Breckenridge Police Department, Stephens County Sheriff’s Office, and Texas Department of Public Safety’s Criminal Investigations Division served six felony arrest warrants on multiple drug dealers in Breckenridge and Stephens County.

The warrants executed were sealed indictments that were issued by a grand jury of Stephens County after being presented to them by the 90th District Attorney’s Office, the report stated. The indictments were the result of a joint investigation involving the three agencies, which lasted for approximately two years.

The investigation began when the Breckenridge Police Department and the Stephens County Sheriff’s Office worked together to identify and investigate a ring of illegal drug dealers that was delivering drugs within the community. The ring was engaged in the transporting and selling of methamphetamine.

The local agencies then requested the expertise of Texas DPS’ Criminal Investigation Division out of Abilene to assist.

Combining their resources and intelligence, the investigation resulted in the seizure of over 500 grams of methamphetamine that had either been actually delivered or intended to be distributed within the community, according to the news release.

“The incarceration of the suspects in this investigation will disrupt a large amount of local, methamphetamine delivery and use,” local officials said in the release.

Arrested in Breckenridge and Stephens County for the First Degree Felony offense of Engaging in Organized Criminal Activity were:

• Billy D. Crain, living on County Road 198 (Tanglewood Island)
• Richard M. Perez, living on County Road 198 and 197 (Tanglewood Island)
• Roger (R.C.) Ritter, Jr., living on County Road 313 (just before Tanglewood Island)
• Zoee G. Bonnette, living on Sycamore Street
• Johnathan R. Wimberley, living on South Cutting Avenue
• Enrique R. Castro, living on North Rose Avenue

Each arrest warrant has a pre-set bond of $100,000.

“More arrests will follow as other sealed indictments are executed. This will involve drug dealers from the Dallas-Fort Worth area responsible for delivering drugs to our community and also drug dealers currently in prison on other convictions,” according to the local officials. “The Stephens County Sheriff’s Office and Breckenridge Police Department would like to thank the citizens of our community for the information that they provided to us during this time. We would also like to thank Texas DPS CID and District Attorney Dee Peavy’s Office for their help and guidance.”

The police department and the sheriff’s office encourage all citizens to always report suspicious activity and apparent drug dealing any time they see it. The non-emergency number to BPD dispatch is 254-559-2211.

In several weeks the Stephens County TX Crime Stoppers tip line will be in effect. It will allow citizens to anonymously report crime information through a mobile phone app, a website, or by telephone. For more information about Crime Stoppers, click here to read the Breckenridge Texan article.