WFAA-TV, wfaa.com
BYLINE: Brett Shipp, WFAA
Ellis County, TX
Sources say Lt. Phillip Slaughter abruptly resigned late last month. What followed shocked his co-workers.
Phillip Slaughter (Photo: Courtesy – Ellis County Sheriff’s Department)
A former Ellis County sheriff’s deputy was arrested Friday, accused of pawning guns allegedly stolen from the sheriff’s evidence locker.
Sources tell News 8 co-workers were shocked at the news that Lt. Phillip Slaughter suddenly resigned late last month after 15 years with the Ellis County Sheriff’s Office.
According to an arrest affidavit, a few days later, department officials made a discovery. They learned that some weapons involved in other criminal cases were missing from the sheriff’s evidence room.
Last Thursday, Ennis police officers found the guns at a local pawn shop. Police allegedly found Slaughter’s name on a pawn receipt.
The sheriff called in the Texas Rangers and after a swift investigation, they recovered two Colt revolvers and one Taurus pistol at the pawn shop and arrested Slaughter, who was in once charge of the sheriff’s property room.
Slaughter is charged with a total of six felony counts: the theft of three guns, one count of record tampering, and two counts of evidence tampering.
Slaughter is in jail in lieu of a $500,000 bond.
– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –
International Association for Property and Evidence
“Law Enforcement Serving the Needs of Law Enforcement”
www.IAPE.org
