ORANGE, Texas — One of Orange County's biggest drug busts to date is shedding light on a troubling trend.
Orange County Constable Precinct 2 Jeremiah Gunter received a Crime Stoppers report on February 27, 2023 around 10 a.m. The report was about a possible narcotics sale in the 5300 block of Washeteria Road in Orange.
The report said a man was selling several different types of drugs from a residence in the area, including marijuana, Xanax, fentanyl, methamphetamines, molly and ecstasy.
The man was later identified as Nathan Elmeier.
Constable Gunter began an investigation into the report and later reached out to Orange Police Department Narcotics and Orange County Constable Precinct 4 Matt Ortega for further assistance. A search warrant was later issued and signed.
Constable Gunter, Constable Ortega and the Orange Tactical Response Team executed the search warrant at the residence on February 27, 2023 shortly after 8 p.m.
Law enforcement found methamphetamines, cocaine, marijuana, mushrooms, THC vapes and gummies, oxycodone, promethazine, and a shotgun during the search.
Gunter says with the materials found, Elmeier was making his own vape cartridges.
"Vaping is one of the biggest problems you are seeing in schools now, and in those vapes they have that illegal THC that our kids are consuming," said Orange County Constable Precinct 4 Matt Ortego.
Gunter say this could be extremely detrimental to the safety of kids in the Southeast Texas community.
"But what is he loading it with? He may tell you he is loading it with this, but loads it with something else and turns around and sells it to high school kids," Gunter said.
Following the search, Elmeier was taken into custody and to the Orange County Jail. He is charged with two counts of "possession of a controlled substance PG 1 >4 grams <200 grams F2" and one count of "possession of a controlled substance PG 2 >4 grams < 400 grams F2."
The drugs are being sent off to three different crime labs across Texas for testing to determine if Elmeier could face additional charges.
"The cocaine, the methamphetamine is packaged and being sent to a crime lab in Beaumont, the marijuana goes to the DPS crime lab, all the THC stuff is outsourced to a private lab," Gunter said.
Elmeier is being held on a $450,000 bond.
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