AUSTIN CO. TASK FORCE ARRESTS TWO IN DRUG, WEAPONS TRAFFICKING INVESTIGATION

  

The Austin County-led Westside Narcotics Task Force says it has arrested two suspects at the head of a months-long investigation involving methamphetamine and weapons trafficking.

Wednesday morning, at about 6:30 a.m., the task force executed a search and arrest warrant in the 6000 block of East 2^nd Street in Sheridan.  Due to the nature of this operation, the Austin County Special Response Team (SRT) executed the warrants and arrested 31-year-old Wesley Connell of Houston on drug trafficking and federal weapons charges.

Task force investigators also arrested 33-year-old Pedro Cortez at his residence in Eagle Lake on charges related to the investigation.

Connell was transported by federal agents to the Federal Detention Center in Houston.  He was federally indicted for Felon in Possession of a Firearm.  Cortez was booked into the Austin County Jail for Theft of a Firearm.

The Austin County Sheriff’s Office says several narcotics charges are pending for narcotics-related offenses.

The Westside Narcotics Task Force, a Houston High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area initiative, is a multi-county unit that covers Austin, Colorado, Fayette and Waller counties.  The agency conducted this investigation jointly with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms (ATF), the Austin and Colorado County District Attorney’s offices, and the Colorado County Sheriff’s Office.

The Austin County SRT is comprised of members from the Austin County Sheriff’s Office, Bellville Police Department, Fayette County Sheriff’s Office, Sealy Police Department, and Washington County Tactical EMS.