July 29, 2010
EAST MONTGOMERY COUNTY – Members of the Precinct 4 Constable’s Office, including Constable Kenneth “Rowdy” Hayden, arrested a Splendora man at a home in the 26000 block of Joy Village Drive around 2 a.m. Wednesday morning, following an extensive investigation. Constable Hayden said since he took office citizens have complained about illegal drug activity on that street and his office has worked to correct the problem.
Gary Larue Followell
For the past six to eight weeks, the investigation has focused on 45-year-old Gary Larue Followell, Jr., who was arrested by Deputy J. Chapa after selling marijuana to an undercover officer. Followell is charged with Possession of Marijuana and Delivery of Marijuana which are both state jail felonies.
Deputies went to Followell’s home where he cooperated and gave them consent to search the residence. Marijuana was in plain view on the kitchen table and one-gallon bags filled with marijuana were found in the master bedroom, in a wooden potato bin, and inside the pantry. A total of 1.5 pounds of marijuana was removed from the home.
Followell, who is unemployed, admitted he was selling marijuana and had done so for several years. Multiple items were removed from the home for seizure because they were purchased with the proceeds from the sale of marijuana.
Followell said he had used the drug for over two decades. In a strange twist, Followell and his wife expressed gratitude at his arrest, saying it was probably the only way to stop him.
“Mr. Followell assured us that his arrest would end his involvement with this illegal activity, and I sincerely hope it does,” Constable Hayden said. “Neighbors often thank law enforcement for making drug related arrests in their neighborhood, but it’s pretty unusual to hear it from the suspect and their spouse.”
Followell was not the only person arrested between Tuesday night and early Wednesday by the deputies who East County residents dubbed “Men In Black.”
Around 8 p.m., Deputy C. Turrentine and other deputies went to an RV/residence in the 20800 block of Old Hwy 105 in unincorporated Cleveland to serve a felony warrant on 55-year-old Dennis Alton Pope. The suspect is well-known by law enforcement, with an extensive criminal history dating back more than two decades, and was on parole after serving time for multiple drug charges.
Deputies made contact with Pope, and when officers began to secure the residence they immediately began seeing evidence of illegal drug activity. A marijuana cigarette was in plain view, along with a dinner plate with two spoons, a plastic bag containing a clear crystal substance, and syringes. The spoons field tested positive for methamphetamine.
The Texas Department of Public Safety responded to the scene and collected narcotics and components used to manufacture methamphetamine. The items were sent to the DPS lab for processing. During transport to the Montgomery County Jail, Pope began to complain of chest pains. Deputies contacted Montgomery County EMS and medics transported Pope to Conroe Regional Medical Center where he was admitted for observation. As of Wednesday evening, Pope remained hospitalized and will be jailed upon his release. Deputies are posted at the hospital and Pope will be transported and booked into the Montgomery County Jail upon his release.
A short time later, Deputy J. Bergland arrested 29-year-old Heather Deanne Delaney of Conroe for Possession of a Controlled Substance (state jail felony) while attempting serve a warrant on someone else. Around 10 p.m. Deputy Bergland and other deputies went to a home in the 18100 block of Hwy 105 E., where they encountered Delaney. After others inside the residence stated the suspect was not home, deputies were granted consent to enter the home and look for the suspect named in the warrant. As they walked in the front door, Delaney walked out of a bedroom where deputies found a small bag of a crystal substance, a set of digital scales and three glass pipes covered with methamphetamine residue. A consensual search of her purse produced a used medical syringe, which Delaney admitted was used to inject methamphetamine earlier in the day. Two witnesses stated Delaney went into the bedroom, possibly to hide something when officers arrived.
Delaney displayed what deputies recognized as indicators of methamphetamine use. She admitted the syringe was hers, and that she used it earlier to inject methamphetamine. Delaney was taken into custody without incident and transported to the Montgomery County Jail.
During the busy night, a Precinct 4 resident asked when the “Men In Black” got any sleep, referring to the many drug arrests occurring at all hours. Chief Deputy Barry Welch replied with a smile, “Not until we get East County cleaned up.”
Constable Hayden said he was pleased that people were noticing their efforts, especially those involving illegal drugs.
“The Constable’s Office is primarily intended to deal with the civil process, “ Constable Hayden said, “But we also focus on illegal drugs and other criminal activities that impact our community because we believe the citizens of East Montgomery County demand and deserve more from law enforcement.
