EUSTACE -- Some small towns on the highway become known as "speed traps," but you might say police chief Ken Holder plans to turn his town into an "illegal drug trap."
Holder has only been in charge of Eustace's small police force for a couple of months, but he has already made a dent in the illegal drug route that Highway 175 has become from Dallas County into East Texas.
"We've had some really good arrests," Holder recently said.
Holder said when Eustace police stop drivers they ask them if they will consent to a voluntary search of their vehicles if there is any cause to be suspicious.
"We tell them flat out we're looking for dope," Holder said.
Holder said most drivers agree, whether they are carrying drugs or not. The drivers apparently agree if they are holding drugs because they fear it would be an indication of guilt, he said.
That approach resulted into arrests for drug possession in one month's time, he said.
On March 7 a vehicle was stopped because it had a cracked front windscreen obstructing the driver's view. A subsequent search revealed baggies used for drug trade and a pill thought to be a controlled substance. After the arrest of the woman, who worked at a game room known to be frequented by drug users, Henderson County jailers discovered a glass pipe and methamphetamine she had placed inside her body.
On March 23 police stopped a vehicle because it was driving in the turn lane. A search revealed two syringes and two baggies containing suspected Methamphetamine. She also was arrested and transported to the Henderson County Jail.
On April 3, a driver of a pickup was discovered crashed into a tree. His truck struck another car before crashing, and he appeared to be intoxicated, according to the police report. The driver was taken to the hospital and arrested the following day. His criminal record showed six previous convictions for driving while under the influence.
In a press release Holder said it has become a priority to remove narcotics from the streets, the schools and the community as a whole.
"The Eustace Police Department strongly encourages anyone who has information about the use, transport or sale of narcotics to come forward," Holder said. "Along with our partners at the Sheriff's Office, we rely on, and desperately need the cooperation of the entire community in combating the narcotics trade in our county."
Mayor Elicia Sanders told Holder at a recent City Council meeting that she is getting good feedback from the community about his efforts.
"People are letting me know they appreciate the respect you are showing them," Sanders said. "Whatever you are doing, keep it up."