Freestone County men, Phillip Morgan Ireland and Courtney Perkins, were arrested Tuesday, May 16, 2017 following an incident that occurred at Ireland’s home located at 215 South Highway 75.

According to Freestone County Deputy Jack Wright’s officer affidavit, a Mr. John Burke, an employee with ONCOR Electric Company, made contact with the Sheriff’s Office to report that he was at the location attempting to cut off electricity to the home because the occupants had been stealing electricity for nearly fur years.

Burke states that as he was attempting to disconnect service, two black males approached him after they exited the back yard of the residence; when one of the males displayed a .45 caliber handgun with the hammer cocked, saying that it wouldn’t be a good idea for him to turn the electricity off.

Burke continued saying that he felt that if he did not immediately leave the residence, that he would have been shot.

Responding to the scene were Deputy Wright, Lieutenant Willis, and Deputy Cordova. With law enforcement on the scene, Burke was able to cut the power from the top of the utility pole; and showed deputies where the occupants had created a box and tied into the power feed by bypassing the required electric meter.

The two males were apprehended after Burke made a positive ID. They were then taken to the Freestone County Jail.

The affidavit states that search warrant was secured for the property; and 52 grams of Psilocybin Mushrooms were found, along with 40 marijuana plants and a quantity of processed marijuana. There were also 12 firearms recovered from several areas inside and outside of the home.

“Quick action led to more drugs off our streets and firearms taken out of dangerous hands,” says Freestone County Sheriff Jeremy Shipley.

 

Phillip Morgan Ireland, 27, has been charged with the following:
–Aggravated Assault with a Deadly Weapon (2nd Degree Felony) with a $20,000 bail
–Theft of Services >=$2,500 <$30,000 (State Jail Felony) with a $5,000 bail
–Manufacture/Deliver Controlled Substance Penalty Group 2 or 2A >=4G <400G (1st Degree Felony) with a $30,000 bail
–Possession of Marijuana >2oz <=4oz (1st Degree Felony) with a $3,000 bail

 

 

Courtney Perkins, 37, has been charged with the following:
–Aggravated Assault with a Deadly Weapon (2nd Degree Felony) with a $20,000 bail
–Manufacture/Deliver Controlled Substance Penalty Group 2 or 2A >=4G <400G (1st Degree Felony) with a $30,000 bail
–Possession of Marijuana >2oz <=4oz (1st Degree Felony) with a $3,000 bail