Published: July 09, 2009 10:58 pm      

Five busted, four out on bond

WAURIKA — Four of the five Jefferson County residents arrested in a multi-agency drug bust on June 24 are out on bond awaiting preliminary hearings, while a fifth remains in Texas.

Jefferson County Sheriff’s Department and Waurika Police Department were among the agencies involved in the drug sweep coordinated by the District 6 District Attorney Office’s Drug Task Force, with four men being arrested on the morning of June 24.

Those taken into custody that day and charged with distribution of a controlled drug were three Waurika residents — Jimmy Torrez Jr., Calvin Hampton and George Romero — along with 57-year-old Louie Dabbs of Ryan.

Torrez, Hampton and Romero each had bail set at $10,000 and each was released after posting bond. They face preliminary hearings on Tuesday The hearing for Hampton, 51, is set for 9:30 a.m., a hearing for Romero, 20, is slated for 10 a.m. and a hearing for Torrez, 19, is scheduled for 10:30 a.m. Dabbs was also given a $10,000 bond and then was released on a medical order of release. His preliminary trial is scheduled for 11 a.m. Tuesday.

The fifth individual arrested was 23-year-old Brady Butler, whose address is listed as southern Jefferson County.

He was apprehended in Montague County, Texas, and was also charged with illegal distribution of a controlled substance.

Butler is fighting extradition back to Jefferson County, where he is considered a fugitive from justice.

Butler was subsequently released from Montague County Jail on $20,000 bond. As part of that bond, he must either go to court in Montague County or return to Jefferson County to face a preliminary hearing.

The bust in Jefferson County was one of two conducted in a two-day period by the District 6 Drug Task Force team. On June 23, nine individuals were arrested in Stephens County and charged with distribution, while two other Stephens County residents alleged to be connected to the distribution ring were already in custody in other parts of the state.

In addition to Jefferson County and Waurika law enforcement personnel, the Oklahoma Highway Patrol, Stephens County Sheriff’s Office and U.S. Marshals assisted in the drug sweep on June 24.