East Texas

By KENNETH DEAN
Staff Writer

GRAND SALINE — A gas station owner and two others have been arrested for allegedly dumping hazardous material into a creek.

Van Zandt County Sheriff Pat Burnett said deputies with his agency and an officer with the Grand Saline Police Department responded to a citizen’s complaint of illegal dumping Tuesday on County Road 1805.

“It was determined that several individuals were pumping the underground storage gas tanks at the B-Z Mart in Grand Saline and dumping it on Van Zandt County Road 1805. Upon arrival, investigators found a large quantity of a hazardous fluid had been dumped on the roadway and into the creek behind the Grand Saline City Lake,” he said.

Burnett said the concerned citizen contacted investigators and advised that the truck that dumped the substance was filling back up and would be heading back out to dump the fluid again.

“Investigators responded to the B-Z Mart and observed subjects filling four containers on a trailer and truck,” he said.

Burnett said truck broke down before arriving at the location and investigators who had been following the vehicle began questioning the two men in the truck.

Burnett said Billy Perdue Jr. 28 and Gilbert Perry Jr., 30, told detectives they had been hired by 48-year-old station owner Shahzad Zulifqar to pump the underground storage tanks and dispose of the fluid.

The investigation revealed Perdue and Perry did not have a permit and license to handle hazardous waste nor a permit to dump the hazardous waste.

The three were arrested and charged with felony illegal dumping over 1,000 pounds or more than 200 cubic feet.

They were arraigned by Precinct 3 Judge Ozelle Wilcoxson and bonds were set at $25,000 each.

Van Zandt County Code Enforcement Officer J.O. Thompson remained on scene with the state of Texas and the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality Emergency Response Team, who were summoned to the scene due to the hazardous substance being dumped illegally into a creek and roadway.

Burnett said further criminal and civil actions are likely, pending investigations.