Department activity as of 01/21/2019

A man who broke into a house with the residents inside has been charged with aggravated burglary.

48 year old Richard Allen Tilley of Short Mountain Road, Smithville is under a $15,000 bond and his court date is February 7^th.

On Saturday, January 19 Tilley entered a residence on Short Mountain Highway while it was occupied. The victim said that Tilley kicked open the door which was locked and entered screaming and making threats. Tilley did not have permission to be there.

37 year old Mark Denver Young of Barnes Mill Road is charged with theft of property. His bond is $5,000 and he will make a court appearance January 31.

On January 13 Young took a 22 ton Huskee log splitter from property on Barnes Mill Road without consent of the owner. Young admitted to taking the log splitter that day. The log splitter is valued at $600. It has been recovered.

The case was investigated by a sheriff’s department detective.

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Department activity as of 01/15/2019

A burglar was caught by a deputy Sunday at the scene of the crime. 30 year old Jeremy Wayne Cox is charged with aggravated burglary and vandalism. His bond is $10,500 and he will be in court January 31. On Sunday, January 13 a deputy was dispatched to Jefferson Road due to a possible break in. Upon arrival the officer discovered that the basement door had been kicked in from the outside and Cox was inside the home. The deputy contacted the owner of the home by phone and she reported that no one was supposed to be in the residence. Cox was taken into custody.

23 year old Crystal May Smith of Miller Road is cited for two counts of simple possession of a schedule IV drug and one count of simple possession of a schedule V drug. Her court date is January 31. While a deputy was placing Smith under arrest on Nashville Highway for a warrant against her, he found one and a half xanax pills and two soma pills (schedule IV) drugs and twelve lyrica pills (schedule V) drug.

40 year old Kevin Jay Dotson of Lee Braswell Road, Smithville is charged with violation of the sex offender law. His bond is $5,000 and his court date is January 31. On July 28, 2018 Dotson failed to report to the sex offender registry within the 14 day window for an annual review, which is a violation of the sex offender registry law.

The DeKalb County Sheriff’s Department found a man with baggies of meth at a home on Hurricane Ridge Road Saturday while serving a warrant against a woman there for a separate offense. 44 year old Glen Ray Jones of Hurricane Ridge Road, Smithville is charged with resisting stop, frisk, halt, arrest, or search, filing a false report, and possession of methamphetamine with intent to sell or deliver.

The woman, 48 year old Shauna Renee Taylor of South Church Street, Alexandria is charged with resisting stop, frisk, halt, arrest, or search. Her bond is $3,500. They will make a court appearance on January 31. On Saturday, January 12 a deputy went to Jones’ residence to arrest Taylor on a warrant. Jones answered the door. When the officer asked Jones if Taylor was there, he answered “no she is not here”. But the deputy saw Taylor run into a back bedroom of the home and slam the door behind her. The officer entered the room to arrest Taylor but she tried to pull away from him. Taylor was subsequently placed in custody. Jones also began to struggle with the officer as he being placed under arrest. Jones tried to pull away from him saying “I am not going to jail”. While making the arrest, the officer found in the left front pocket of Jones’ jeans a small metal container which held five small baggies each with a clear substance believed to be methamphetamine. The bags weighed 0.35 grams, 0.37 grams, 0.3 grams, 0.33 grams, 1.08 grams for a total weight of 2.49 grams. Jones also had $343 in cash on his person which was seized. He was brought to the jail for booking.

40 year old Candy Nicole Redmon of McMinnville Highway is charged with violation of bond conditions. Her bond is $3,500 and she will be in court on January 31. On Saturday, January 12 a deputy went to a residence on McMinnville Highway to serve a warrant on Redmon. Her mother was also there. A computer check revealed that Redmon was under bond conditions to keep away from her mother. She was placed under arrest.

Department activity as of 01/07/2016

A Smithville man found with methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia during a traffic stop will make a court appearance on January 17. 37 year old Danny Ray Murphy is charged with possession of methamphetamine with the intent to manufacture, sale, or delivery. He is under a $25,000 bond. On Friday, December 28, a deputy conducted a traffic stop on a blue Chevy S10 pickup truck at North Congress Boulevard and Don Cantrell Street. The driver and passenger agreed to a search. The officer found 8.85 grams of a crystal like substance believed to be meth in the pocket and the sock of Danny Murphy. It was in three separate baggies with two baggies weighing 0.85 grams total. The large baggie contained 8.0 grams of meth. A scale, needle, glass pipe, and numerous baggies were also found. Murphy was arrested and taken to the sheriff’s office for booking,

 

A Smithville woman has been charged with ten counts of forgery after passing checks at local businesses on the same victim ten times within a week in December. 25 year old Josie Danielle Culwell of Eagle Creek Road is under a $50,000 bond and her court date is January 17.

The forgeries occurred as follows:

*December 15 Culwell passed a check on her victim at Walmart for $69.74 and again at Walmart for $34.28

*December 16 Culwell passed a check on the same victim at Walmart for $26.89 and again at Walmart for $59.50

*December 17 Culwell passed a check on the same victim at O’Reilly’s Auto Parts for $72.30 and at Walmart for $24.01 and again at Walmart for $13.14

*December 18 Culwell passed a check on the same victim at Walmart for $21.82

*December 20 Culwell passed a check on the same victim at O’Reilly’s Auto Parts for $451.20

*December 21 Culwell passed a check on the same victim at Larry’s Discount Grocery for $50.00

 

42 year old James Walter Stringer of Church Street, Liberty is charged with violation of the sex offender law. His bond is $20,000 and he will make a court appearance on January 24. Stringer failed to meet the December 31, 2018 quarterly deadline for reporting his listing on the state’s sex offender registry to the sheriff’s department.

 

A Liberty man has been in a rash of October burglaries, thefts, and vandalisms at Liberty Mini Storage. Six victims were impacted by the crimes. 49 year old Randall Eugene Tittle of Tubb Street, Liberty is charged with three counts of vandalism, five counts of burglary, and five counts of theft. His bond totals $135,500 and his court date is January 10.

All the crimes occurred on October 15 as follows:

*Tittle cut two locks off the doors at Liberty Mini Storage valued at $20.

*Tittle cut two locks off the doors of a storage building and entered. He stole from the victim multiple items such as gas top stove, air conditioner, generator, and NASCAR Christmas collector items, all valued at $7,600.

*Tittle cut one lock off the doors of a storage building and entered. He stole from the victim multiple items such as 2 window air conditioner units, two tents, plastic totes, etc, all valued at $832.

*Tittle entered a storage and stole from his victim multiple items such as an Oak dining room set, pool table, pool sticks, etc. all valued at $1750.

* Tittle entered a storage building and stole from his victim multiple items such as Maytag washer, 60 inch TV, miscellaneous tools, and two saddles, all valued at $1875.

* Tittle entered a storage building and took from his victim two Honda generators, coin proof sets, a pair of binoculars, and a Honda gas tank all valued at $3,575.

 

A Carthage man involved in a truck crash last week near Liberty was found with methamphetamine. 38 year old Mark William Green is charged with driving under the influence and possession of methamphetamine with the intent to manufacture, sell, or deliver. His bond totals $17,500 and he will be in court January 17. On Thursday, January 3 a deputy responded to Smith Fork due to a truck accident. After the crash, the driver drove away from the scene but the deputy spotted the vehicle on Hannah Branch Road. Green was behind the wheel unconscious. The officer stopped and awoke him but Green kept trying to fall asleep. His eyes were bloodshot and his speech was slurred. Green said he had taken several xanax the night before and was still hung over. Because of his condition, Green was unable to perform field sobriety tasks. As Green got out of his truck, the deputy spotted a small package wrapped in black electrical tape setting in the driver seat. Green said the package contained one ounce of meth. The officer opened the package and found one ounce of a white crystal rock like substance believed to be methamphetamine. Several small plastic bags were also found in Green’s possession.

Department activity as of 12/27/2018

The sheriff’s department hauled in a fugitive last week who was wanted in Montana. 41 year old Jason Stewart of Cookeville is charged with being a fugitive from Justice. He is under a $75,000 bond and his court date is January 10. Stewart was arrested on Wednesday, December 19. Stewart has a warrant against him in Hill County, Montana for assault with a deadly weapon. He will be extradited back there to face the charge.

23 year old Crystal May Smith of Miller Lane, Smithville was stopped on East Broad Street and charged with simple possession of a schedule II drug. Her court date is January 19. On Sunday, December 23 a deputy stopped a black Chevy Impala, driven by Smith, knowing that someone in the car was wanted by authorities. Smith gave consent for a search of the vehicle and the officer found 0.4 grams of a crystal like substance believed to be methamphetamine on the driver’s side. Smith was cited for the offense and the other person in the vehicle was taken into custody.

39 year old Benito Castorena of Village Place, Smithville is charged with criminal impersonation and contraband in a penal institution. His bond totals $5,000 and he will make a court appearance January 10. On Sunday, December 23 a deputy was called to a residence on Sparta Highway due to an unwanted guest. Upon arrival the officer spoke with a man who identified himself as Ben Garcia and said his birthday was March 21, 1978. After the man left the residence the officer learned that he had lied about his identity and that his real name is Benito Castorena with a birth date of March 21, 1979.  The deputy later located Castorena and placed him under arrest. After being brought to the jail for booking, Castorena was found to have in his coat pocket a small bag containing a green leafy substance believed to be marijuana.

23 year old Jalen Grooms of Watertown is charged with driving under the influence. Bond is $1,500 and his court date is January 10. On Tuesday, December 18 a deputy responded to Edgewood Street in Alexandria in reference to a suspicious vehicle setting partially in the road and in the yard of the complainant. Upon arrival the officer found Grooms unconscious in the driver’s seat. He awoke Grooms and found his speech to be slurred and he was unaware of his surroundings. Grooms had a strong odor of an alcoholic beverage on his person. He performed poorly on field sobriety tasks.

36 year old Margret Rebecca Buttry of South College Street, Smithville is charged with a third offense of driving on a revoked license. Her bond is $3,000 and she will make a court appearance on January 10. On Tuesday, December 18 a deputy spotted a white Toyota 4runner traveling on West Broad Street without any running lights on the rear of the vehicle. He stopped the automobile and learned from a driver license check that Buttry’s license were revoked for a DUI on July 30, 2012 in Hawkins County. Buttry also has two previous driving on revoked offenses in Hawkins County on September 19, 2012 and April 12, 2017.

47 year old Craig Anthony Hill of Holmes Creek Road, Smithville is charged with public intoxication. He is under a $3,000 bond and his court date is January 10. On Saturday, December 22 a deputy responded to a residence on Adcock Cemetery Road where a man had shown up on the back porch claiming someone was chasing him. Upon arrival the officer spoke with the man, Hill who said he had been running through the woods because someone was chasing him. The deputy observed that Hill was very jittery and unable to stand still. He was sweating and his pupils were dilated. The officer determined that Hill was under the influence of an intoxicant. He was placed under arrest.

37 year old Brett McGehee, Jr. of Old Liberty Road, Alexandria is charged with domestic assault. His bond is $45,000 and he will make a court appearance on January 10. On Friday, December 21 a deputy was called to the McGehee residence for a physical domestic. Upon arrival he spoke with a woman who had physical bodily injuries to her facial area. A further investigation revealed that McGehee was the primary aggressor.

33 year old Kimberly Ann Spivey of County House Road, Sparta is charged with driving under the influence and cited for violation of the move over law. Her bond is $1,500 and she will make a court appearance on January 17. On Sunday, December 23 while assisting another officer with a traffic stop on Sparta Highway, a deputy spotted a vehicle approaching which forced the officers to get off the road and into a ditch. Before reaching the deputies the vehicle changed lanes and passed them at a high rate of speed. The automobile was pulled over on East Broad Street. Spivey was the driver. She had a strong odor of alcohol coming from her person and her eyes were red and watery. Spivey said she had consumed two beers and some tequila earlier. She submitted to implied consent and field sobriety tasks but performed poorly.

An Alexandria man has been arrested for breaking into and stealing items from a semi truck earlier this month.

An Alexandria man has been arrested for breaking into and stealing items from a semi truck earlier this month.

33 year old Joshua Lynn McCowan is charged with burglary and theft of property. His bond is $10,000 and his court date is January 10

On Sunday, December 2 McCowan broke into and stole from a 1988 Kenworth semi-truck a Stanley 2-tier toolbox with tools, a Sear brand tool box, four chains, two rubber wheel chocks, a Tennessee license plate, semi log books, and assorted paperwork valued at $1,775.

The case was investigated by a sheriff’s department detective.

Department activity as of 12/18/2018

A Smithville man has been arrested for stealing an automobile two weeks ago. 30 year old Timothy William Patrick of the Loop Circle, Smithville is charged with burglary, theft of property, failure to appear, and violation of parole. His total bond on the charges is $35,216 except for the parole violation for which he is being held without bond. His court appearance date is December 20. On Tuesday, December 4 Patrick broke into and stole a 2003 Chrysler PT Cruiser valued at $2,000.  The case was investigated by a Sheriff’s Department Detective.

25 year old Jesse Ray Herman of Meadowbrook Drive is charged with assault. His bond is $3,500 and he will be in court January 10. On Wednesday, December 12 while incarcerated at the jail, Herman struck another inmate in the face with his fist several times causing abrasions.

29 year old Justin Keith Potts of Old Hickory is charged with public intoxication and two counts of vandalism. His bond totals $10,000 and he will make a court appearance January 10. On Saturday, December 15 a deputy was dispatched to the Midnight Express due to an intoxicated man who had become violent. Upon arrival the officer confronted the suspect, Potts who was intoxicated and unsteady on his feet. Potts had tried to fight with security personnel at the business. Video surveillance there revealed that Potts had kicked and broken out glass in the front door. While being transported to jail for booking, Potts repeatedly kicked a window in the patrol car causing damage to the door.

Holiday Tips to Guard Against being a Victim of Crime

Thefts and break-ins may increase during the holidays, since thieves often know that many families travel leaving their homes unattended or stocked with high-priced gifts.

I urge you to guard against becoming a victim by following a few tips.

We always want you to be on alert and keep an eye on your neighborhood especially this time of year because most thieves will travel about to see what cars or houses and garages are easy targets. If you should spot a strange vehicle in your neighborhood get a good description of it and a tag number and let us know. We’ll check it out.

If you don’t already have one, Sheriff Ray suggests investing in a home alarm system and security cameras.

If you have an alarm system make sure it is working properly. Its also good to have security cameras. Those serve a dual purpose. If your alarm goes off you can go back quickly and pull up an app on your phone to look in your house and see if someone is there. It also gives law enforcement something to go back and look at to see if we can identify the person or their vehicle. If you can’t afford a camera system in your home you can always get a game camera and hide them around your home but make sure they have an infrared flash on it and not a bright flash because if a thief sees that he will steal the camera. We have actually solved some cases where people have used game cameras and captured a picture of the suspect or a tag off their car so its very helpful to us to have something like that.

Unoccupied houses can be potential targets for burglary, but hiding the signs of vacancy may fool thieves into thinking you’re still home. Leaving lights on, asking a neighbor to get your mail and setting automatic timers on holiday lights and decorations may give the appearance of being home. It may also be a good idea to do a home security check and consider making any necessary updates before you leave.

Keep your home safe by locking up. When leaving your home, keep in mind that thieves don’t always enter through the front door. Make sure all the doors, including back and patio doors, are locked. And finally, check your windows periodically to make sure the hardware is secure.

If a thief is able to break into your home, chances are they will be looking for guns, tools, jewelry and electronic devices. Sheriff Ray urges you to make sure you record serial numbers to your weapons, televisions, DVD players, laptops or desk computers, shop tools, etc and don’t leave money or jewelry out in the open. Mark wrenches and socket sets and other items because they are easy to steal. Keep your valuables secure.

It just amazes me sometimes how many people don’t write their gun serial numbers down. Without the serial number it is almost impossible to solve the theft of a weapon. In time a stolen gun will probably be sold or traded to a gun dealer so make sure the serial numbers are recorded so they can be traced. Don’t leave weapons out in the open. Lock them in a secure gun safe that is bolted to the floor or a wall where someone can’t just pick it up and take it off. Some gun owners even hide their weapons and often forget where they are hidden which can cause confusion. They’ll forget where they hid them and think they are stolen. They will come to us to report a theft and then discover later the guns were hidden under a mattress or in a dresser drawer and they forgot. You need to know where your weapons are anyway in case you need them. We also give away gun locks.

Keep your walk in door to your garage shut and locked at all times. Also keep your garage doors down at all times and locked.

Keep Christmas presents and packages, whether inside or outside your home, out of plain sight. Many people will buy presents and pile them under their Christmas tree which they place in front of a window to be seen. Remember if someone is wanting to break into your home they can go up to the window and see the tree and what is under it. If they see a lot of Christmas presents there it may entice them to break in.

If you prefer to do your holiday shopping online, it might be a good idea to start customizing the delivery times and locations for your packages to help deter theft.. Most shipping carriers may allow you to have a package dropped off at your home by a back or side door instead of the front door. You can also choose to have your packages held at a carrier’s location so you can pick them up at a time convenient to your schedule.

“If you are not at home when packages are delivered we encourage you to have them delivered to a neighbor or family member who is home during the day. I drove by a house last week and noticed three or four boxes piled up next to the front door. It was obvious they had something delivered there. How easy would it be for a thief to pull up there and load up those boxes and drive off?” said Sheriff Ray.

Other tips to keep in mind:

*When leaving home for an extended time, have a neighbor or family member watch your house and pick up your newspapers and mail.

*Do not post on social media about being out of town.

YOUR VEHICLE

*Park your vehicle under a street light or under some kind of lighting.

*Avoid driving alone or at night.

*If you must shop at night, park in a well-lighted area.

*Avoid parking next to vans, trucks with camper shells, or cars with tinted windows.

*Park as close as you can to your destination and take notice of where you parked.

*Never leave your car unoccupied with the motor running or with children inside.

*Keep all car doors locked and windows closed while out of your car. Make sure to set your car alarm.

*Do not leave packages or valuables on the seat of your car. This creates a temptation for thieves. If you must leave something in the car, lock it in the trunk or put it out of sight.

*Be sure to locate your keys prior to going to your car.

*Keep secure hold on your purse, handbag and parcels. Do not put them down or on top of the car in order to open the door.

*When approaching or leaving your vehicle, be aware of your surroundings.

*Do not approach your car alone if there are suspicious people in the area. Ask a store security officer for an escort before leaving your shopping location.

ATM MACHINES

*If you must use an ATM, choose one that is located inside a mall, store, or a well-lit location. Withdraw only the amount of cash you need.

*Protect your PIN by shielding the ATM keypad from anyone who is standing near you.

*Do not throw your ATM receipt away at the ATM location

SHOPPING

*Shop during daylight hours whenever possible. If you must shop at night, go with a friend or family member.

*Avoid wearing expensive jewelry

*Do not carry a purse or wallet, if possible

*Always carry your Driver License or Identification Card along with necessary cash. Checks, and or a credit card you expect to use.

*Even though you are rushed and thinking about a thousand things, stay alert to your surroundings

*Avoid carrying large amounts of cash

*Pay for purchases with a check or credit card when possible.

*Keep cash in your front pocket

*Notify the credit card issuer immediately if your credit card is lost, stolen, or misused

*Keep a record of all of your credit card numbers in a safe place at home

*Be extra careful if you do carry a wallet or purse. They are the prime targets of criminals in crowded shopping

*Beware of strangers approaching you for any reason. At this time of year, “con-artists” may try various methods of distracting you with the intention of taking money or belongings.

CHILDREN

*If possible, leave small children at home with a trusted babysitter.

*Teach your child to go to a store clerk and ask for help in case your child is separated from you.

*Teach children to stay close to you at all times while shopping.

*Never allow children to make unaccompanied trips to the restroom.

*Children should never be allowed to go to the car alone and they should never be left alone in the car.

*Teach children their full name, address and telephone number to give to law enforcement. Teach children to immediately inform you if a stranger is bothering them.