UPSHUR COUNTY, Texas — An East Texas sheriff's deputy was bit by a dog during a drug raid at an Upshur County home Friday.
According to the Upshur County Sheriff's Office, five people were arrested during the raid at a residential compound in the 9000 block of Bob-O-Link Road happened just after daybreak on Friday. The raid was a part of an investigation that spanned two years.
The raid led to arrests that included several charges, including felony drug possession, weapons violations, parole violation, and a cruelty to animal charge based on discoveries at the scene.
The sheriff's office said one deputy was bitten by a dog that has been quarantined due to no proof of a rabies vaccine. The deputy was treated at a medical facility and released.
Another dog was found seriously malnourished dog while chained to a dog house in a cage with no food or water. That dog was taken to a veterinarian for an evaluation, UCSO said.
Deputies also found drugs and firearms were recovered from the location, including a gun engraved with “Ellis County Sheriff’s Office." UCSO notified Ellis County to determine the weapon’s status with the agency.
Cameron Scott Spears, 38, of Gladewater, who the sheriff's office was the main target of the investigation, was charged with two counts of manufacture and delivery of a controlled substance, unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon and cruelty to a non-livestock animals.
Jimmy Wayne Skinner, 50, of Gladewater, was charged with possession of a controlled substance, parole violation and unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon. Hailey Renee Shaddix, 33, of Gladewater, was charged with two counts of property theft and possession of a controlled substance.
An unnamed homeless man was charged with possession of a controlled substance, possession of a dangerous drug and possession of marijuana. An unnamed woman from Hawkins was charged with possession of a controlled substance.
UCSO thanked the Gilmer Police Department for the use of their Animal Control vehicle to transport the two dogs.