East Texan Arrested on Numerous Drug Charges

LONGVIEW � A Longview man is being held in jail under a $100,500 bond after being arrested on drug charges. According to KETK, Billy Don Pirtle, 47, was arrested around 10:30 Friday night in the 1300 block of East Marshall Avenue after police noticed the vehicle he was in matched the description of a vehicle suspected in multiple burglaries. After searching his vehicle, police learned that Pirtle had a warrant out for his arrest and had been arrested previously for reckless driving, aggravated robbery, possession of a controlled substance, and evading arrest.

A search of the vehicle turned up a cloth bag that contained a set of scales, 15 pre-packaged baggies with methamphetamine weighing 7.2 grams and 17 methadone pills. Pirtle was booked into the Gregg County Jail on charges of manufacturing and delivering a controlled substance of more than 4 grams but less than 200 grams and manufacturing and delivering a controlled substance of more than 200 grams but less than 400 grams.