Department activity as of 10/20/2020

The DeKalb County Sheriff’s Department has made recent burglary and theft arrests.

39 year old Brian Allen Tatum and 27 year old Jamie Renee Allred of Murfreesboro are charged with fraudulent use of a credit card. Bond for each is $3,500 and they will be in court on October 29.

On September 26 until October 14, 2019 Tatum and Allred used a stolen credit/debit card for $436.24.

41 year old Michael Dale Tittle of Alexandria is charged with fraudulent use of a credit card, burglary and theft of property. His bond is $7,500 and he will make a court appearance October 29. On March 21 Tittle broke into a 2001 Mitsubishi car and took a credit/debit card using it at the Liberty Stop and Buy for $163.

31 year old Jason Kyle Shepherd of Smithville is charged with domestic assault and violation of a no contact order. His bond is $10,000 and he will make a court appearance October 29. A deputy was summoned to Eagle Creek Road due to a domestic violence complaint. Upon arrival he spoke with a woman who said that on October 2 she and Shepherd were riding together in a vehicle when they began to argue and he punched her in the right eye leaving a bruise. He also grabbed a small notebook and struck her on the left side of the face. The woman said Shepherd also made several threats claiming he would take her to places where no one could find her and knock her teeth down her throat. The deputy learned through central dispatch that active bond conditions were in place against Shepherd for him to keep away from this woman.

Department activity as of 10/12/2020

A Lebanon woman has been charged with identity theft. 36 year old Ashley Dawn Williams is under a $1,500 bond and her court date is October 29.

On March 1 Williams used the name and social security number of another person in order to open an account with Xfinity for herself. She admitted to having committed the crime.

The case was investigated by a Sheriff’s Department Detective.

22 year old Cito Santiago Garcia of Teakwood Circle, Rock Island is charged with driving under the influence. He was also cited for violation of implied consent and possession of a schedule II drug (oxycodone). His bond is $2,500 and he will be in court October 28.

On October 6 a deputy responded to a reckless driver call on McMinnville Highway. The deputy arrived on the scene where a Sheriff’s Department Detective had already pulled over the vehicle. The deputy spoke with the driver, Garcia who appeared to be under the influence. He submitted to but performed poorly on field sobriety tasks. Garcia refused to give a sample for a blood alcohol test. During the investigation officers found a blue round tablet believed to be oxycodone.

Warning People About ‘Spoofed’ Scam Calls

If you get a phone call supposedly coming from the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office — think twice before giving out your financial information.

Someone is targeting would be victims with spoofed phone calls which means even though the caller ID may show otherwise, the calls are not coming from the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Department.

It’s a scam intended to coerce or threaten would be victims into sending money .

“I have received calls about someone spoofing the jail’s phone number making it appear the call is coming from here but it is not. One person said the caller warned that there was a warrant against him in another state and that if he didn’t send money someone from the sheriff’s department would have him picked up. He wound up sending money. That is a scam and if you fall for it the scammers will keep on taking your money until you stop sending it. They will call again and say they found another warrant, that there are taxes on the warrant, or something”.

“We have also had a complaint of someone spoofing the jail’s number and using it as some type of security from Apple. I just want to let the public know that we are not making these calls. If you receive a call at your home that shows it is from the sheriff’s department, hang up and call me and I will check it out for you. Most of the time these scammers will ask you to put money on an Apple, Visa or GreenDot card and if you do that and give them the card number it gives them access to the cash. Remember, if a caller says you have an arrest warrant against you or that you need a security code for some reason and must send money give us a call. Keep in mind the sheriff’s department will never solicit money for any reason by phone”.

Department activity as of 10/06/2020

A Smithville man was found with drugs and a stolen handgun during a recent traffic stop. 22 year old Jere Raymond Green of South Mountain Street is charged with theft of property over $1,000; possession of a controlled substance (meth and marijuana) with intent to manufacture, sell, or deliver; possession of drug paraphernalia; evading arrest; and no valid driver license. His bond is $20,000 and he will be in court October 15.

On October 1 a detective observed Green driving a gold GMC Yukon on West Broad Street, Smithville knowing that Green did not have a valid driver license. The detective tried to stop the vehicle but Green failed to pull over. The officer then initiated a pursuit which ended on South Mountain Street. As Green exited the vehicle he threw something into the woods. There the detective recovered a Glock 48- 9 millimeter handgun which had been reported stolen. A white bag was also found on the ground near the vehicle which contained a glass pipe along with a baggy that held a crystal like substance believed to be methamphetamine which weighed 3.75 grams and another baggy with a green leafy substance believed to be marijuana that weighed 8.84 grams. Green also had $4,755 in cash on his person which was seized as suspected proceeds from drug transactions.

Meanwhile, 30 year old Christopher Lee Cunningham of Old Blue Springs Road, Smithville is charged with theft of property over $1,000. His bond is $2,500 and he will be in court October 27.

On September 4 Cunningham stole various gaming consoles and games for the consoles from a residence where he was staying on Short Mountain Highway. The estimated value of the stolen items is $1,580. Cunningham sold some of it to GameXChange in McMinnville.

Department activity as of 09/14/2020

A Smithville woman pulled over by Sheriff’s Department detectives for a minor traffic offense was found to have heroin, methamphetamine, and marijuana on her and in the vehicle. 36 year old Amanda Faye Ervin of Short Mountain Highway is charged with sale and delivery of heroin and methamphetamine. Ervin was also cited for simple possession of a schedule II drug (subutex), simple possession of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia, and failure to maintain lane of travel. Her bond is $20,000 and she will be court on September 24. On September 4 two detectives pulled over a white SUV for failing to maintain its lane of travel. After Ervin, the driver, consented to a search the detectives found in her bra a needle and baggie containing a crystal like substance believed to be methamphetamine which weighed 0.87 grams. Ervin also had in her possession a container which held a substance inside two pieces of foil believed to be heroin which weighed 0.12 grams and 0.10 grams. Detectives further found a white pill in a container believed to be subutex and a baggie of a green leafy substance thought to be marijuana which weighed. 0.43 grams. Inside her vehicle in the driver side door panel were two baggies of a crystal like substance believed to be methamphetamine which weighed 3.5 grams and 0.6 grams. The search also turned up a digital scale, grinder, two pipes, rolling papers, five needles, and four baggies.

32 year old Kimberly Blanchfield of Nashville Highway, Dowelltown is charged with domestic assault. Her bond is $2,500 and she will be in court October 1. On September 4 a deputy was summoned to a domestic assault complaint at a residence on Nashville Highway. Upon arrival the officer spoke to Blanchfield’s mother who said that Blanchfield had bitten her on the right side of the face and that she had struck her in the mouth resulting in a busted lip. Blanchfield had a strong odor of alcohol on her person and was placed under arrest.

49 year old Richard Allen Tilley of Short Mountain Highway is charged with a violation of an order of protection. His bond is $2,500 and he will be in court September 24. On September 1 a deputy was summoned to a residence on Short Mountain Highway due to a domestic assault. Upon arrival the officer spoke with Tilley and another person, which central dispatched confirmed, had an order of protection against Tilley. He was supposed to keep away from this person.

Department activity as of 8/20/2020

An elderly woman was recently arrested for assaulting her granddaughter. 78 year old Sarah Opal Atnip of Shady Drive, Smithville is charged with domestic assault. Her bond is $3,000 and she will be in court September 3. On August 21 a deputy was dispatched to Shady Drive due to a physical domestic. Upon arrival the officer spoke with a woman who reported that she and her grandmother, Atnip had gotten into an argument. According the woman, Atnip started swinging at her and then grabbed her by the arms.

59 year old Sammy Gene Taylor of Snow Hill Road, Dowelltown is charged with public intoxication. His bond is $1,000 and he will be in court September 3. On August 19 a deputy was dispatched to Hale’s Lane in reference to an unwanted guest. Upon his arrival, the officer was informed that Taylor was highly intoxicated and was not supposed to be there. The deputy found Taylor near the road on Hale’s Lane. Taylor’s speech was slurred and he was very unsteady on his feet. He also smelled of alcohol. Taylor was then placed under arrest.

32 year old Stephanie Susanne Amanti of Earl Avenue, Smithville is charged in a recent grand jury sealed indictment with two counts of sale and delivery of a schedule drug. Her bond is $5,000 and she will be arraigned on September 8.

56 year old Aubrey Lee Kilgore of East Main Street, Dowelltown is charged with a second offense of driving under the influence and driving on a suspended license. He was further cited for driving on roadways laned for travel and possession of schedule II, IV, and V drugs. His bond is $4,000 and he will be in court September 10. On August 20 a deputy spotted a black Chevy S-10 traveling north on Brush Creek Highway leaving its lane of travel. The officer pulled over the truck and spoke with the driver, Kilgore who admitted to having consumed alcohol and taken xanax and suboxone. Kilgore submitted to but performed poorly on field sobriety tasks. Open, unopened, and empty containers of alcohol were found in the truck along with half a xanax pill and a bottle containing three Gabapentin pills. Kilgore tried to hide in his mouth approximately two grams of a crystal like substance believed to be methamphetamine. A computer check revealed that Kilgore’s license were revoked in Putnam County for DUI on July 23, 2019.

53 year old James Michael Turner of Tampa Drive, Nashville is charged with a third offense of driving under the influence and driving on a suspended license. His bond is $5,000 and he will be in court September 17. On August 21 a deputy was dispatched to Allen Ferry Road due to a possible wreck. Upon arrival the officer spoke with Turner and learned that he had been driving on Allen Ferry Road when he ran off the right side of the road and got stuck. Turner had a strong odor of alcohol on his person. His speech was slurred and he was very unsteady on his feet. Turner submitted to but performed poorly on field sobriety tasks. A computer check revealed that Turner’s license had been revoked for DUI on November 8, 2014 in Rutherford County.

Department activity as of 8/18/2020

A semi truck driver arrested last week for DUI bailed out of a patrol car and jumped in the lake trying to escape.

35 year old Christopher Paul Ashlock of Muscle Shoals, Alabama is charged with driving under the influence, escape, and resisting stop , frisk, halt, or arrest. His bond is $8,500 and he will be in court September 3.

On Thursday, August 13 a deputy received a call of a possible drunk driver on Highway 70 east and went to investigate. He spotted a white tractor trailer truck traveling toward Sparta and watched as it crossed over the white line of the road onto the right shoulder almost hitting road signs and mail boxes before going back across the center line. The officer then pulled over the truck and spoke with the driver, Ashlock whose eyes were bloodshot and watery. The deputy also detected a strong odor of alcohol and marijuana coming from inside the truck. Ashlock submitted to but performed poorly on field sobriety tasks. He was placed under arrest, handcuffed, and seated in the rear of the patrol car. With his wrists handcuffed behind him, Ashlock managed to open the car door and flee on foot before jumping in Center Hill Lake near Sligo Marina trying to swim away. Officers secured a boat and caught up with Ashlock. Although he continued to resist, Ashlock was apprehended and brought to the jail for booking.

39 year old Geri Lynn Brown is charged with burglary, auto burglary, aggravated burglary, and two counts of theft. Her bond is $30,000 and she will be in court August 27.

On August 1 Brown broke into and stole items from a residence and garage on Chapman Hollow Road taking two shotguns, two handguns, a leather western gun belt, several power tools, and other miscellaneous items. The value of the stolen items comes to $3,790. Brown also broke into an stole a 1993 Toyota Corolla valued at $2,500.

27 year old Dalton Grady Moore of Poss Road, Smithville is charged with public intoxication. On August 14 a deputy received a call about a man in the area of Four Seasons Marina who was possibly under the influence. Upon arrival the officer found Moore who appeared to be in a hyperactive state and an altered mental status. Moore said he had smoked some marijuana about two hours earlier. He was placed under arrest.

54 year old Franklin Dewayne Nicholas of McMinnville is charged with possession of a schedule VI controlled substance (marijuana) for sale or delivery and possession of methamphetamine to manufacture, sell or deliver. His bond is $24,500 and he will be in court September 3.

On August 13 the Warren County Sheriff’s Department Drug Unit contacted a DeKalb County deputy to be on the lookout for a silver Nissan Altima traveling on Sparta Highway with illegal narcotics. The officer spotted the car in a parking lot on Sparta Highway and stopped to investigate. The deputy spoke with the driver, Nicholas and obtained consent to search the car. The search turned up 40 plastic baggies, seven grams of a clear crystal like substance thought to be methamphetamine, and eight grams of a green leafy substance believed to be marijuana. The officer also seized the car and $190 in cash.

Department activity as of 8/10/2020

A Smithville man has been charged with breaking into and taking items from a houseboat. 34 year old Christopher Elliott Bradshaw of Smithville will be in court August 20 on charges of burglary, theft of property, and vandalism. His bond is $15,000. On July 28 Bradshaw allegedly broke into a houseboat on Floating Mill Road and took three pairs of Bravan glasses, an iphone, and $200 cash. He also damaged a door to the boat during the burglary. The total value of the stolen items comes to $1,800.

19 year old Markus Jay Majka of Bright Hill Road, Smithville is charged with possession of methamphetamine with intent to manufacture, sell, or deliver. He was further cited for driving on roadways laned for travel and possession of drug paraphernalia. His bond is $5,000 and he will be in court August 20. On August 4 two detectives pulled over a black Mazda for failure to maintain lane of travel (swerving) on Miller Lane. The driver, Majka, had no license. He consented to a search of his vehicle which yielded seven baggies of a crystal like substance believed to be methamphetamine in amounts of 0.55 grams, 0.46 grams, 0.65 grams, 0.33 grams, 0.38 grams, 0.28 grams, and 0.39 grams. Also during the search, the officers found a scale, 17 additional baggies with residue, several glass pipes, and other drug paraphernalia in the car.

42 year old Stephen Anthony Patterson of Sparta Highway, Smithville is charged with a 2nd offense of driving on a revoked license and sale and delivery of a schedule VI drug (Marijuana). His bond is $3,500 and he will make a court appearance August 20th. On August 5 two detectives pulled over a black Chevy S10 on Hurricane Ridge Road because the driver, Patterson had active warrants against him. Patterson’s license were revoked for a DUI in DeKalb County on December 21, 2017 and have not been reinstated. He has a prior charge against him in Warren County for driving while revoked on March 27, 2019. He is currently on probation. Patterson gave consent for a search of his person and vehicle that turned up a pouch containing 4.0 ounces of a green leafy substance which was found in the bed of the truck. The marijuana was packaged in four individual baggies. Nineteen additional baggies were in the cab of the truck. Patterson also had $754 on him believed to be proceeds from the sale of illegal narcotics. The cash was seized.

Department activity as of 8/06/2020

A woman who assaulted another with a golf club last month will be in court next week. 47 year old Billie Jo Morris of King Court Circle, Smithville is charged with aggravated assault. Her bond is $1,500 and she will be in court August 13. On July 9 Morris caused bodily injury to a woman while using a weapon (golf club). A deputy was called to the hospital where the victim had gone for treatment after being assaulted. The victim said Morris struck her in the right arm with a golf club at a location on King’s Court Circle and tried to hit her again but she (victim) was able to get control of the golf club. The victim had bruising and swelling on her right arm and an injury to her left arm after falling to the ground upon being hit.

53 year old Joel Acuna Delacruz, Sr. of Old West Point Road, Smithville is charged with domestic assault. His bond is $5,000 and he will be in court date is August 20. On August 1 Delacruz caused bodily harm to his wife by hitting her in the back of the head with his hand. A deputy was called to the Delacruz home on Old West Point Road due to a domestic disturbance and spoke with the victim who said she and her husband, Delacruz had been arguing and that he hit her causing a knot on the back of her head. A witness confirmed her story.

The man who was charged last week with escape after getting away from officers while being transported from the courthouse to the jail is facing more charges. 41 year old James Ricky Ashford, Jr. of Delong Road, Smithville is charged with driving on a suspended license and theft of property. His bond is $3,000 on these charges and his court date is August 13. On July 30 a deputy spotted Ashford driving. Ashford’s license have been suspended since November 1, 2018 for failure to show proof of insurance. The theft charge is due to Ashford stealing a pair of handcuffs during the escape incident last week.

27 year old Michael Brady McGhee of Pack Circle, Smithville is charged with criminal trespassing. His bond is $1,500 and he will be in court August 20. On July 28 a deputy was dispatched to Vanatta Subdivison in Alexandria due to an unwanted guest on the property. Upon arrival the officer spoke with the homeowner who said she did not want McGhee on her property. McGhee refused to leave even after being told he needed to go.

Department activity as of 7/29/2020

A Dowelltown man was arrested last Sunday after allegedly threatening another man with a knife while intoxicated. 31 year old Trenton Thomas Pedigo of Nashville Highway, Dowelltown is charged with aggravated assault, public intoxication, and resist stop frisk halt search or arrest. His bond is $11,500 and he will be in court August 20. On July 26 a deputy was dispatched to Nashville Highway in reference to someone being threatened with a knife. Upon arrival he spoke with the victim who said another man with no shirt and wearing black pants pulled a knife and chased him. Pedigo appeared to be under the influence and had a half bottle of Vodka. As the deputy was placing him in custody, Pedigo resisted by pulling his hands away and trying to run.

More charges have been filed against a DeKalb County couple recently arrested for burglary and theft offenses. 43 Year old Jessica Lee Steinbach and 35 year old Edward Lee Judkins, Jr. of Keltonburg Road are charged with burglary and theft of property over $1,000. Bond for each is $8,500 and they will be in court August 20. On July 10 the couple broke into a semi trailer located on Keltonburg Road and stole several items including tools, welding rods, carburetor, darts, grease gun, and more valued at $1,367.

53 year old Lisa Taylor Chancey of Sparta Highway, Smithville is charged with public intoxication. Her court date is August 20. On July 23 a deputy was dispatched to Lake Motel on Sparta Highway due to an intoxicated woman. Upon arrival the officer spoke with the woman, Chancey who appeared to be very intoxicated. Chancey was very unsteady on her feet and her speech was slurred. Chancey told the officer that she had drank five shots. He also learned the Chancey had gone to different rooms at the motel and knocked on the doors and windows.

Andrea Colleen Claspell of Coconut Ridge Road, Smithville is charged with driving under the influence. Her bond is $1,500 and she will be in court August 20. On July 23 a deputy was dispatched to a residence on Allens Chapel Road for a welfare check. The complainant said that a silver SUV was parked in his driveway and that a woman in the vehicle was unresponsive. The officer arrived and found the woman, Claspell unresponsive in the driver seat. Keys to the vehicle were in the ignition and the motor was running. He awoke the woman and spoke with her. Claspell smelled of alcohol and her speech was slurred. Claspell said she had consumed some tequila and thought she was in Indiana. Claspell also said she had driven there from Short Mountain Road. Claspell was unable to perform field sobriety tasks due to her level of intoxication.

40 year old Tawanna Ann Evans of Adcock Cemetery Road is charged under a sealed indictment issued on June 2, 2020 with two counts of possession of methamphetamine with intent to manufacture, sell, or deliver and two counts of the same offense in a drug free zone.. Her bond is $7500 and she will be arraigned in criminal court on August 3.