

Dustin Heard comes home to Raven’s Roost
Dustin Heard recently opened Raven’s Roost, a liquor store at 202 State Highway 79 North in Olney.
Mr. Heard says it has been a long-time dream to open the business and when everything lined up perfectly to purchase a great location in Olney, he sprang into action -- designing and building the upscale store from the ground up.
Mr. Heard says his goal is to have a better selection of products than other purveyors of adult beverages in the area at prices that fit every budget.
He orders special edition products that he advertises on the Raven’s Roost Facebook page that are sold on a firstcome, first-served basis once the product is revealed.
The selection at Raven’s Roost will continue to evolve the longer he is in business, and distributors increase the store’s allocation of product, he said.
“I want to make the most of my real estate in my store,” he said. “I am always trying to evolve.”
His goal is to provide Olney consumers with the products they want.
“I am trying to get repeat business and being competitive is how I’m going to do it,” he said.
Mr. Heard named his store in honor of the 13 years he spent fighting the federal government over false allegations that he and three other Blackwater Worldwide guards -- Evan Liberty, Nick Slatten and Paul Slough -- killed unarmed Iraqi civilians in a 2007 gun battle in Baghdad.
All four served on a Blackwater Tactical Support Team code named “Raven 23.” They were convicted by a Washington D.C. jury in 2014, and served six years in prison in connection with the incident.
The first federal judge to hear the case dismissed it for lack of evidence. In an amicus brief, the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers described their prosecution by the U.S. Department of Justice as “vindictive” and “dangerous” and urged that the case be dismissed.
Following a national grassroots effort to free them, President Donald Trump pardoned the four men on Dec. 23, 2020.
Their story is the subject of a book that will be released by HarperCollins in 2025.
Mr. Heard said his new business is his way of showing the community and the world how to bounce back from adversity.
“I’m persevering. I’m not going to let me being in prison and everything that happened to us ruin our lives,” he said.
“Just because you go through [hard times], that doesn’t mean you can’t do something with your life.”
Please give Raven’s Roost a call at 940-5643500, stop by or visit their Facebook page at: Raven’s Roost Olney Texas.
Hours of operation are Monday through Saturday 10 a.m. till 8:45 p.m.