Department activity as of 10/18/2019

A 57 year old woman was arrested recently for aggravated assault after allegedly threatening her sister with a knife. Janie Lou Green of Gene Vaughn Road, Smithville is under a $5,000 bond and she will be in court October 31.

On October 9 a deputy was dispatched to a residence on Gene Vaughn Road due to a domestic incident. Upon arrival the officer spoke with a woman who reported that when she got home she found that Green had locked the door and that when Green unlocked the door she had a knife pointed at her and threatened to kill her.

Two inmates at the jail have been charged in separate cases of assaulting fellow prisoners 39 year old Christopher Pearson Myers of Sparta is charged with assault. His bond is $4,500 and he will make a court appearance on October 31. On October 8 Myers assaulted a fellow inmate with a closed fist in the annex of the jail.

Meanwhile, 20 year old Michael Timothy Hersam of Sparta is charged with assault. His bond is $2,500 and he will make a court appearance on October 31. On October 14 while incarcerated in the jail, Hersam assaulted another prisoner causing injuries to the inside of the victim’s mouth and swelling to his eye. The victim was taken to the hospital where he received stitches inside of his mouth.

24 year old David Joe Parrott of McMinnville is charged with driving under the influence and filing a false report. He was further cited for driving on a suspended license, possession of an open container of alcohol, expired registration, no insurance, failure to exercise due care, and violation of implied consent. His bond is $8,000 and he will make a court appearance October 31. On October 12 a deputy was dispatched to a truck wreck and upon arrival spoke with Parrott who was inside the truck and smelled of alcohol. Although he was the only person in the truck and the keys were in his pocket, he told the officer a friend of his had been driving and left the scene after the wreck. But witnesses said no one but Parrott had been in the truck at the time of the crash. Parrot refused to submit to field sobriety tasks and implied consent. A search warrant was obtained for a blood sample from him.

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Department activity as of 10/11/2019

A Liberty man who threatened another with a hammer and used it to damage his car has been charged with aggravated assault and vandalism over $1,000.56 year old Joseph Messercola is under a $10,000 bond and he will be in court October 17.

On October 1 Messercola entered a residence on Pumpkin Hollow Road and tried to assault another man with a hammer. He then took the hammer and broke the windows out of his victim’s 1999 Chevy Malibu causing $1,000 damage. Messercola admitted to the crime.
A man has returned to DeKalb County to face a charge filed against him seven years ago.

61 year old Robert Morris Turner of West Broad Street is charged with violation of the sex offender law. His bond is $5,000 and he will be in court October 17.

On July 1, 2012 Turner failed to report to the sheriff’s department as directed on June 1, 2012. After the offense, Turner absconded and was later picked up in another county for other offenses. He was released to DeKalb County authorities on October 2.

51 year old Amanda Kay Hamilton of Jacobs Pillar Road, Smithville is charged with a second offense of driving under the influence. After being taken into custody she was caught bringing contraband into the jail. She was further cited for no insurance, violation of the implied consent law and due care. Her bond totals $12,500 and she will be in court October 17.

On October 3 a deputy was dispatched to a motor vehicle crash in which an automobile left the road and went into a ditch. Upon arrival he spoke to Hamilton, the driver of the automobile. She was unsteady on her feet and performed poorly on field sobriety tasks. Hamilton refused to give implied consent and a search warrant was obtained for a blood sample from her. After being brought to the jail Hamilton was asked if she had any drugs on her and she replied “no”. During the booking process a correctional officer noticed Hamilton chewing on something and asked her to spit it out. It was found to be a small round yellow pill.

Department activity as of 10/08/2019

A woman caught driving erratically by a county deputy last week also had a variety of drugs and paraphernalia. 42 year old Stephanie Lee Vanatta of Blue Springs Road, Smithville is charged with possession of methamphetamine with intent to manufacture, sell or deliver; sale and delivery of schedule I, IV & VI drugs, driving under the influence, and failure to appear. Her bond totals $83,500 and she will be in court on these charges October 17.

On Thursday, October 3 a deputy was patrolling on Keltonburg Road when he noticed a car failing to maintain its lane of travel. He pulled it over and spoke with the driver, Vanatta and learned that she has active warrants against her. Vanatta told the officer that she was on probation. Her driver license is also suspended. The officer observed that Vanatta was unsteady on her feet and she admitted to having taken methamphetamine earlier in the day. Vanatta submitted to field sobriety tasks but performed poorly. Although she agreed to give blood for a test, a search warrant was secured for a blood sample.

During a search of Vanatta’s vehicle, the officer found three baggies with a total of 15 xanax pills, four baggies of a crystal like substance believed to be methamphetamine totaling 1.40 ounces, 0.4 grams of a powdery substance thought to be heroin wrapped in tin foil, five bags of marijuana totaling 11 grams, along with drug paraphernalia including scales, extra baggies, and cash.

Vanatta had failed to appear in General Sessions Court on September 26 for previous charges of possession of drug paraphernalia, possession of a prohibited weapon and another failure to appear charge.

47 year old Mark Anthony Mason, Jr. of Dearman Street, Smithville is charged with driving under the influence. He was also cited for violation of the open container law. His bond is $2,500 and he will be in court October 17. On Thursday, October 3 a deputy and Smithville Police Officer spotted a gray Dodge pickup truck on Midway Road matching the description of vehicle given by a complainant concerning a reckless driver. Officers pulled over the truck and spoke with the driver, Mason. He had a strong odor of alcohol on him and he was unsteady on his feet. His speech was also slurred. Mason submitted to but performed poorly on field sobriety tasks. He admitted to having consumed Vodka while driving and an open container of Vodka was found in the truck.

27 year old Richard James Horst of Edgewood Street, Alexandria is charged with driving under the influence. He was also cited for violation of the light law. His bond is $2,500 and he will make a court appearance October 17. On Friday, October 4 a deputy spotted a black BMW SUV traveling north on Brush Creek Highway with a passenger side headlight out. He pulled over the vehicle and spoke with the driver, Horst. He had a strong odor of alcohol on him. Horst’s speech was slurred and he was unsteady on his feet. He submitted to but performed poorly on field sobriety tasks.

Department activity as of 10/02/2019

A fugitive wanted in Virginia for forgery and identity theft was arrested by the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Department last week. 37 year old Elizabeth Ann Chalfant of Hurricane Ridge Road, Smithville is charged with being a fugitive from Justice. Her bond is $75,000 and she will be in court October 10. Plans are to extradite her back to Virginia.On September 27 a deputy went to Chalfant’s home to serve active warrants against her from Virginia and Alabama. In Virginia, Chalfant is wanted for four counts of forgery, two counts of obtaining money by false pretenses, and two counts of identity theft.
56 year old David Wayne Johnson of Page Drive, Smithville is charged with violation of the sex offender registry. His bond is $10,000 and he will be in court October 17.
On September 26 a deputy conducted a home visit to make sure that Johnson was in compliance with the state’s sex offender registry but learned that Johnson had a facebook account not listed on his registry paperwork with the sheriff’s department. Johnson admitted to having the facebook account and failing to list it on his registry as a social media site.
28 year old Royce Anthony Prater of Earl Avenue, Smithville is charged with assault and aggravated assault. His bond totals $13,500 and he will be in court October 17.
On September 28 a deputy was dispatched to a residence on Poss Road due to a domestic complaint in which shots were fired. Upon arrival the officer spoke with a woman who said that Prater shoved her to the ground causing her knees to bleed. Before leaving the scene, witnesses said Prater grabbed a handgun from the trunk of his car and fired two shots and then put it back in the trunk.
A man pulled over for a non working brake light was arrested for more serious offenses after the deputy found in his vehicle marijuana, methamphetamine, and drug paraphernalia. 39 year old David Allen Hesson, Jr. of Evins Mill Road, Smithville is charged with possession of a schedule VI drug (marijuana). He was also cited for driving on a suspended license, violation of the light law, violation of financial responsibility, simple possession of a schedule II drug (methamphetamine) and possession of drug paraphernalia (two glass pipes). His bond is $2,500 and he will be in court October 17.
On September 29 a deputy pulled over a vehicle on Midway Road due to a non-working brake light. The driver, Hesson consented to a search of the automobile and the officer found a bag in the passenger seat that contained a substance believed to be marijuana which weighed 5.40 ounces. Another bag of the same substance weighed 5.5 grams. Hesson said both bags held marijuana. The officer also found 0.7 grams of methamphetamine and two glass pipes. Hesson’s license was suspended for failure to maintain proof of insurance on September 21, 2017 and he still has no insurance on the vehicle.
30 year old Gary Brandon Myers of Hillsboro, Tennessee is charged with two counts of an order of protection violation. His bond is $9,500 and he will be in court October 10.
On July 4 a deputy spoke with a woman who said that she had an active order of protection against Myers and that he had messaged her on facebook and sent text messages to her in violation of the order. Thirteen days later, a deputy was dispatched to the woman’s home on Eagle Creek Road and there she reported that Myers had sent her three more text messages.
31 year old Jacob Daniel Demps of Cookeville is charged with violation of an order of protection. His bond is $10,000 and he will be in court on October 17.
On September 27 a deputy was called to a residence on Sparta Highway due to an unwanted guest. Upon arrival he spoke with a woman who reported that Demps was in her home and she did not want him there. He was found hiding in a bedroom closet. The officer conducted a background check and learned the Demps is under an active order of protection in Putnam County to keep away from the woman.
Jonathon D. Thomas of Liberty is cited for driving an unregistered vehicle, possession of drug paraphernalia, and simple possession of schedule I and II drugs. His court date is October 17. A deputy pulled over a maroon Subaru on West Broad Street in Smithville for no license plate on the vehicle. An inventory search of the automobile turned up 3.1 grams of methamphetamine, 0.4 grams of heroin, three spoons with residue, five glass pipes with residue, and three hypodermic needles.

Department activity as of 09/26/2019

A convicted felon who recently took a shot at someone with a rifle will find himself in court today (Thursday). 64 year old Kenneth Lee Johnson of Poss Road, Smithville is charged with unlawful possession of a weapon by a felon and aggravated assault. His bond is $10,000. On September 11 a detective from the sheriff’s department was called to Johnson’s home to investigate a shooting and learned that Johnson had fired one shot from a 30-30 Winchester rifle at his victim but missed. No one was injured. According to Sheriff Ray, Johnson admitted to firing the weapon.

Johnson, a felon from North Carolina, was convicted there in 1984 for possession of cocaine with intent to manufacture or deliver and he isn’t supposed to be in possession of firearms.

Meanwhile, 38 year old David Nathan Conaway of Liberty is cited for simple possession. On September 14 Conaway was arrested on a valid warrant out of Smith County. During the arrest, one oxycodone pill was found but Conaway had no prescription for the pill. His court date is October 3.

Mary Michelle Johnson of Smithville is cited for simple possession of a schedule II drug (methamphetamine), a schedule III drug (suboxone), and possession of drug paraphernalia. On September 18 a deputy conducted a traffic stop of a vehicle in which Johnson was a passenger. After a consent to search was granted, the officer found in Johnson’s wallet a napkin and baggies containing a small amount of methamphetamine (0.2 grams) along with four whole pills and a broken pill believed to be suboxone.

Department activity as of 09/03/2019

A Smithville man who tried to keep two women from leaving his home during a domestic dispute last month has been charged in the case.
20 year old Sean Douglas Austin is under a $13,500 bond for one count of domestic assault and two counts of false imprisonment or kidnapping. His court date is September 9. On August 1 a deputy responded to a residence on Page Drive due to a domestic dispute. Upon arrival the officer learned that Austin had held two women there against their will, including the mother of his child, by physically standing in their way and holding the door shut trying to prevent them from leaving the home. Austin also tried to hit his child’s mother as she ran from the residence.

19 year old Abraham Diaz-Perez of McMinnville is charged with underage driving while impaired. His bond is $1,500 and he will make a court appearance on September 26. On August 26 a deputy was patrolling on McMinnville Highway when he noticed a vehicle approaching him and that the driver had failed to dim his high beam lights. The officer stopped the automobile and spoke with the driver, Diaz-Perez. He told the deputy that his lights only worked on the high beam but the officer informed him that this was a light law violation. The deputy also noticed a strong odor of alcohol coming from the vehicle. After being asked how much he had to drink, Diaz-Perez said he had consumed three or four beers. He performed poorly on field sobriety tasks and refused to submit to implied consent. A search warrant was obtained for a blood draw from him.

23 year old Rebecca Hope Thomas of Eckles Heights, Liberty is charged with filing a false report. Her bond is $8,000 and she will be in court on September 19.On August 30 deputies tried to serve an active domestic assault warrant on 45 year old Freddy Silvester Stringer, Jr. who was believed to be at Thomas’ home. Upon arrival the officers spoke to Thomas and asked about Stringer but she told them several times that Stringer was not there. After she gave the deputies permission to search her home, Stringer was found hiding in a water heater closet with the door shut. A clothes basket had also been placed in front of the closet door. Stringer was taken into custody and Thomas was also placed under arrest. Stringer’s bond for domestic assault is $7,500 and he will be in court September 19. On August 19 Stringer threw this wife (not Thomas) to the ground tearing her blouse and causing an injury to her left wrist. He also put the woman in fear of her life and safety by warning her not to call police. The woman fled anyway and went to the Liberty Post Office where she called law enforcement. Upon arrival the officer observed that the woman appeared to be scared and that her blouse had been torn exposing her sports bra. The woman said Stringer pushed her down outside of their camper trailer and then he forced her back inside the trailer while calling her names. She claims Stringer then grabbed her by the neck and threw her down again ripping her shirt and causing a cut and scrape to her wrist.

26 year old Sara Rebecca Dalton of Nashville is charged with identity theft. Her bond is $7,500 and she will be in court September 5. On November 28, 2018 Dalton obtained the personal identification of her sister in order to get a valid Tennessee driver license and had her (Dalton’s) photo placed on the license with her sister’s personal information.

47 year old Tammy Denise Currie of Toad Road, Dowelltown is charged with criminal trespassing. Her bond is $3,500 and she will be in court on September 5. On August 21 a deputy was dispatched to a residence on Toad Road due to a complaint of an unwanted guest. Upon arrival the officer spoke with the homeowner who said that Currie had returned to the residence even after being warned on a prior occasion to leave and not come back. Officers had been called to the home twice for the same offense and found, the second time, Currie on the back porch of the residence. She was placed under arrest.

35 year old Casandra Kay George of Liberty is charged with driving under the influence. She was further cited for reckless driving, no insurance, and violation of implied consent. Her bond is $2,500 and she will be in court September 19. On August 22 a deputy was patrolling when he spotted a car at the intersection of Broad Street and Congress Boulevard trying to turn left on East Broad toward Mapco Express. The car was in the oncoming travel lane instead of the designated turning lane. The officer stopped the car and spoke with the driver, George. She had a strong odor of alcohol on her person and her eyes were red, bloodshot and watery. George submitted to but performed poorly on field sobriety tasks. After she refused implied consent, the deputy obtained a search warrant for a blood draw from her. George was then placed under arrest.

Department activity as of 8/15/2019

An Alexandria man with charges against him was recently arrested after he tried to outrun the law in his pickup truck. 34 year old Bryon Ray Gibbs of Curtis Avenue, Alexandria is charged with driving while licensed revoked, reckless endangerment, and evading arrest in a motor vehicle. His bond on those charges is $23,000 but he is being held without bond for a violation of probation and failure to appear.

On May 25 a deputy was on Old Blue Springs Road when he noticed a truck, driven by Gibbs, heading toward him. Knowing that Gibbs had active warrants against him and that he had no license, the officer tried to pull him over but when he turned on his lights and sirens, Gibbs sped away, recklessly crossing the center yellow line and cutting in front of a car near Mystick Market on Highway 56 south. Gibbs was subsequently stopped and taken into custody. Gibbs’ actions placed the public in potential harm.

Gibbs’ license was revoked for failure to appear in Wilson County Court on January 26, 2018. He has been arrested multiple times for driving without a license in the last two months.

37 year old David Allen Cobb of Luttrell Avenue, Smithville is charged with accidents resulting in damage (hit and run). His bond is $3,500 and he will be in court August 22. On August 2 Cobb left the scene of an accident without waiting for information to be shared with other parties involved or for law enforcement to arrive and make a report of the accident.

A deputy responded to a reported hit and run accident on New Bildad Road. Upon arrival the officer spoke to the parties on the scene who reported that a gold colored Ford Excursion had hit their vehicle and left the scene without exchanging any information with them. A license plate number was obtained from the fleeing vehicle and officers learned that it was registered to Cobb. An officer came upon the accident scene and saw Cobb’s vehicle before it left the scene. He confirmed that the driver of the Ford Excursion was Cobb.