A Smith County Game Warden, in collaboration with the Smith County Sheriff’s Office environmental deputies, arrested a local resident for illegal dumping after materials were found strewn along a bridge and creek on a landowner's property.
The incident was reported when the landowner discovered a significant amount of construction waste, including sheetrock, housing trim, and lumber, dumped on his property. The vigilant landowner promptly contacted the authorities, leading to the involvement of the Game Warden.
During the investigation, the Game Warden managed to trace the discarded materials back to a local store through a barcode on a box. This trail ultimately led to the owner of the credit card used for the purchase. Subsequently, the warden interviewed the cardholder, who revealed that someone known to his family had promised to dispose of the leftover materials after a home remodel in exchange for a small fee.
However, instead of fulfilling the agreement, the suspect pocketed the money and illegally dumped the construction waste onto private property. With this information in hand, the Game Warden, along with environmental deputies from the Smith County Sheriff’s Office, obtained a warrant for the suspect's arrest on charges of felony commercial dumping involving over 200 pounds.
Upon arresting the suspect, law enforcement officers discovered additional building materials and trash inside the suspect's truck, reinforcing the gravity of the offense. The suspect is now facing legal consequences for the alleged illegal dumping and will be prosecuted accordingly.
