Kemp, Texas - Three suspected methamphetamine dealers were taken into custody in the overnight hours this weekend after Henderson County narcotics investigators executed a search warrant and later conducted a traffic stop along Pritchett Lane.
Just before midnight on Saturday, December 6, at about 11:39 p.m., Investigators Jude Bonner and Jonathan Barrios, along with K-9 Deputy Edwin Rodriguez, Investigators Blake Seward and Dawson McGee, carried out a narcotics search warrant in the 1300 block of Pritchett Lane in Kemp. The warrant, signed by 173rd Judicial District Judge Clint Davis, targeted a fugitive wanted by the Texas Board of Pardons and Parole.
During the search, investigators located the suspect, Rodney Blake Bryant, inside a recreational vehicle. Bryant was taken into custody without incident. A search of the RV uncovered two large plastic baggies of suspected methamphetamine packaged for distribution, a digital scale commonly used in drug sales, and additional paraphernalia used for ingesting narcotics.
Bryant was transported to the Henderson County Jail, where he was booked on a charge of Manufacture or Delivery of a Controlled Substance, along with his active parole violation. He is currently awaiting arraignment.
The investigation continued into the early morning hours. At approximately 1:19 a.m. on Sunday, December 7, Investigators Bonner and Barrios conducted a traffic stop in the same block of Pritchett Lane involving a silver Kia sedan.
The driver, identified as Krayton Lavelle Williams, told investigators he had been out of prison for only seven weeks and was on parole for a drug-related conviction. A passenger in the vehicle, Gabrielle Cheyenne Ward, was also identified. K-9 Deputy Rodriguez arrived on scene with K-9 Valco, who gave a positive alert on the vehicle during an open-air sniff.
A subsequent search of the Kia led investigators to a loaded firearm and a concealed compartment in the dashboard containing a large amount of suspected methamphetamine packaged for sale. Williams also had a large amount of cash on him.
Both Williams and Ward were arrested and transported to the Henderson County Jail. Ward was charged with Manufacture or Delivery of a Controlled Substance. Williams was charged with Manufacture or Delivery of a Controlled Substance and Unlawful Possession of a Firearm by a Felon. Both remain in custody awaiting arraignment.
Sheriff Hillhouse praised the work of the deputies and investigators, noting, “Day or night these investigators and deputies are working hard to keep these drugs off the streets of Henderson County.”
