QUITMAN, TX — A former deputy with the Wood County Sheriff’s Department has filed a wrongful termination suit in federal court, saying she was terminated in retaliation for raising questions about improper activity within the department.

Samantha Sellers filed the suit this past Thursday in U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Texas in Marshall. The lawsuit names the county, Sheriff Bill Wansley, Chief Deputy Wes Criddle and Lt. Jerry Blaylock.

Wansley, who is running for re-election in Tuesday’s election, did not respond to numerous requests for comment. Neither did Blaylock.

Criddle said via email he had not been served with notice of the lawsuit.

“We have received an EEOC charge,” he said, “which our attorneys are addressing.”

Read more from the Longview News-Journal here.