East Texas sheriff using yard signs to label where drugs are found

HENDERSON COUNTY, TX (KLTV) - An East Texas sheriff is taking a new approach to the war on drugs in his county.

During a drug raid this week, Henderson County Sheriff Botie Hillhouse placed a yard sign in front of the home that reads, "Drug house raided. Don't be next."

"This is nothing more than another way of using crime scene tape, except it's got a message on it," Hillhouse said.

Two people in that home were arrested and booked into the Henderson County Jail after deputies found methamphetamine in the home.

Hillhouse says since the beginning of June, 20 drugs users or dealers have been arrested.

"Once drugs are located inside that residence, then what I do is, I've got yard signs and I take those yard signs out in the yard and I post those signs out by the roadway," Hillhouse said.

He said the new yard signs are a message for offenders.

"As you're doing what you're doing, we're going to aggressively pursue you," Hillhouse said.

Hillhouse said the signs are also a message for residents.

"All of a sudden people in the neighborhood see a whole bunch of police coming in and making entry into a house and they are always curious. What's going on, what's happened? I'm trying to get the message out to what has happened," Hillhouse said.

He said the sign he put out Thursday was the first one in the new program.

Residents in the area said they are thankful for the communication from law enforcement and for the crack down on drugs.

"It's not for embarrassment purposes, it's not for anything other than letting the community know what we're doing, letting the offenders know we're working hard," Hillhouse said.

Hillhouse says right now, once drugs are found inside the home, that's when the sign is placed in the yard. He says they remove them once they finish their investigation.

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