A drug bust in Edgewood led to the rescue of 31 animals living in deplorable conditions on the afternoon of March 9.
Officer Becky Baskin of the Edgewood Police Department assisted the SPCA of Texas in recovering 27 dogs, two horses and two cats from a rental house on Van Zandt County Road 3110 on Thursday. Officers found 26 of the dogs, mostly small breeds, and both cats living inside the four-bedroom, one-bath house rented by Ricky Bing and Candy Honeycutt. The SPCA said in a news release that the house was "packed with animal feces and trash."
"It was unreal. It wasn't even close to living conditions," Officer Baskin said.
Bing and Ms. Honeycutt were living in the house with their two children, who were taken by Child Protective Services after Edgewood Police officers and Van Zandt County Sheriff's officers conducted the methamphetamine bust on March 4. Baskin said the couple will likely face cruelty to animal charges along with other charges associated with running the meth lab.
Officers originally learned of the meth lab from a confidential informant who said the lab had been in operation for two years. Edgewood police Officer Henry Askew said the informant was concerned about the children living in those conditions.
Askew said Edgewood police originally attained a warrant for Bing for several municipal violations and arrested him on March 4. Askew said police found "a large quantity" of meth stored in an aspirin bottle in Bing's shirt pocket.
Askew said Ms. Honeycutt got word of the arrest and called her ex-brother-in-law, Clyde Wayne Honeycutt, who was living in a trailer near the house, to bring $500 to post bond for Bing. When she came to the police station, without the bond money, police questioned her about the meth lab, and she admitted to running one through her home along with Bing and Clyde Honeycutt. Askew said when Clyde Honeycutt arrived with the $500, police arrested him as well.
Askew said Bing is charged with possession and delivery of a controlled substance and one count of endangerment to a child. Ms. Honeycutt is charged with two counts of endangerment to a child. Askew said both will likely face additional charges as the investigation progresses.
Clyde Honeycutt is charged with manufacture and delivery of controlled substances and felony possession of a firearm. Askew said Honeycutt will also face charges of possession of anhydrous ammonia in connection with operating a meth lab. Honeycutt currently has seven charges that have been brought against him in Dallas. Askew did not specify what those charges are, but he said Honeycutt is being held in the Van Zandt County jail with a $300,000 bond.
Bing and Ms. Honeycutt are also being held at the Van Zandt County jail. Askew said Bing's bond is set at roughly $75,000 and Ms. Honeycutt's bond is set at about $50,000. Neighborhood MapFor more information about the Interactive Animal Cruelty Maps, see the map notes.
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