Around 7:30 a.m. Friday morning, officers in the Dallas County Sheriff’s Office’s (DCSO) Narcotics Enforcement Team (NET) descended on 195 Pear Tree Road in Valley Grande to conduct a narcotics search – in the end, the team walked away with a cache of drugs and guns and seven arrests.

According to DCSO Sgt. David Odom, who leads the NET unit, officers began working on the bust in April after organizing controlled buys of methamphetamine from people living in the home.

During Friday’s raid, officers uncovered five firearms – Odom noted that most of the people in the residence were armed when officers entered – multiple bags of methamphetamine, marijuana, drug paraphernalia, stacks of cash and a surveillance system.

Seven arrests were made, two females and five males, but Odom noted that Tammi Weinberger and Frances “Sissy” White were the main targets of the raid.

Weinberger, the primary target, was charged with three counts of distribution of a controlled substance, as well as possession of a controlled substance and paraphernalia; the secondary target, White, was charged with one count of distribution of a controlled substance.

The four men taken into custody, two of which live at the residence and two others that were present during the raid, were also hit with various charges – Brian Johnson of Jones and Melvin Brown of Silver Hill were arrested, as were Steve Lawrence, Kenneth Cooper and Christopher Small..

According to Odom, the six were collectively charged with 10 felonies and seven misdemeanors, with a bond totaling more than $173,000.

Additionally, because the residence was approximately 1.5 miles from Valley Grande Elementary School, each distribution charge will receive a five-year enhancement in sentencing.

Odom also noted that two small children were present, requiring officers to contact the Department of Human Resources (DHR), as were a number of dogs and cats, requiring Animal Control officers to assist with the operation.

According to Dallas County Sheriff Mike Granthum, more raids are coming.

“This is just the groundwork,” Granthum said. “If you’re doing dope, we’re coming. You better sleep with one eye open.”

Granthum noted that the department has always had a drug unit, but narcotics investigations were not a top priority – that is changing now, as Granthum sees drugs, especially methamphetamine, as a serious problem that only leads to more crime in the community.

“That’s the drug we’re fighting right now,” Granthum said. “Right now, it’s like a cancer. It’s running rampant. We’re just tired of it in our community. This is a dangerous, toxic drug.”

Though NET has only been live for about three weeks, Granthum says he can already see the benefits of the team’s work.

“These guys are putting the extra effort into it,” Granthum said. “They realize and they’ve seen first-hand…the destruction this drug is causing in our community. They’re eager.”

According to Granthum, the team is constantly training and learning about new processes and methods for smuggling and manufacturing drugs – Granthum said about 70 percent of the department’s training budget goes toward narcotics.

“We’re seeing it’s making a difference,” Granthum said, noting that he has seen more cooperation from the community and support from the Dallas County Commission that goes “above and beyond” his expectations. “We have zero tolerance. “Sooner or later, you’re going to get caught in our NET.”