Department activity as of 04/22/2019

The sheriff’s department has seen an increase lately of prisoners trying to sneak drugs into the jail.
Five inmates were caught within the last week and all of them have been charged with bringing contraband into a penal facility.

41 year old Amy Lynn Hall of Felts Road, Sparta, arrested Thursday, April 18 on a fugitive from justice warrant, was caught on a jail surveillance camera removing something from her body cavity and then flushing it down a toilet before putting something else back in her body. Before being moved to the main population cell, Hall was strip searched by a female correctional officer. The search turned up a glass pipe. Hall was charged with introduction of contraband and tampering with or fabricating evidence. Her bond totals $12,500 and she will make a court appearance on May 16.

In a separate case, 34 year old Michael Pieree Rose, another inmate at the jail, was found on April 20 with two white oxycodone pills. His bond is $7,500 and he will make a court appearance on May 9.

Meanwhile three other inmates, 33 year old Laura Beth Farris of Lebanon, 40 year old Sherry May Evans of Pea Ridge Road Liberty, and 47 year old Tammy Denise Currie of Toad Road were charged on Sunday April 21 after female correctional officers noticed suspicious activity in the women’s cell and began to investigate. During a strip search, Farris produced from her body cavity two plastic baggies, one containing a white powdery substance believed to be Neurotin. The other baggie held a crystal like substance believed to be methamphetamine.

The investigation revealed that Farris was trying to hide the drugs for Evans who had given her the Neurotin and Currie who had passed her the methamphetamine.

Farris, Evans, and Currie are each under a $7,500 bond and will make a court appearance on the charges May 2.

Recent busy court days when inmates are brought back and forth between the jail and the courthouse could be a reason for the uptick in this contraband activity. Our court officers do their best to secure the courthouse and keep it free of contraband but for the last three weeks there have been several days in which we have had up to three courts being conducted at the same time including two on the third floor with the General Sessions and Criminal Courts and another in the first floor courtroom. Under those circumstances it is hard to get inmates from the jail to the different courtrooms without them picking up things (contraband) left by others on the ground or courthouse stairwells.

More manpower for his department could help address the issues.

We are required to have two court officers per court and someone has to do the scanning (operate the courthouse metal detector). On very hectic court days we don’t have enough court officers so we have to use the chief deputy, detectives and other officers to come in and work courts. We are hoping the county budget committee will recommend funding my request this year for extra officers and manpower to help keep this problem from happening.

We work hard to keep things out of the jail especially drugs. From time to time we see inmates that are being booked into the jail come in with different kinds of medication or illegal substances in their body cavities as a means of trying to hide those drugs from the correctional officers in order to get them into their cell. When we find an inmate in possession of drugs in jail we arrest them again for that.

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Department activity as of 4/18/2019

A deputy pulled over a vehicle last Friday for a traffic violation but discovered much more after talking to the driver and his two passengers.

44 year old James Lynn Owen of Twilla Lane, Smithville is charged with driving under the influence and cited for possession of drug paraphernalia and 0.2 grams of methamphetamine. Owen is under a $1,500 bond.

35 year old Ashley Nicole Owen is charged with tampering with evidence and cited for simple possession of a schedule II drug (Hydrocodone), 0.2 grams of the schedule II drug Methamphetamine and possession of drug paraphernalia (a needle). Her bond is $3,500 and she will make a court appearance May 2.

41 year old Jessica Renee Owen is charged with possession of a controlled substance with the intent to manufacture, sell or deliver a schedule II drug (Oxycodone) and tampering with evidence. She was further cited for simple possession of 0.2 grams of the schedule II drug Methamphetamine and possession of drug paraphernalia (a needle and 2 glass pipes with residue). Her bond totals $13,500 and she will make a court appearance May 2.

On Friday, April 12 James Owen’ vehicle was stopped on East Broad Street for a display of registration violation. While speaking with Owen, the deputy noticed that his speech was very rapid and stuttered. His eyes were red and glossy and his pupils constricted. As Owen got out of the vehicle, he was unsteady on his feet and fidgety. He performed poorly on field sobriety tasks and although he submitted to implied consent for a blood test, a search warrant was obtained for a blood sample. A search of his vehicle turned up 0.2 grams of meth from the console of the car, glass pipes, and Oxycodone.
Ashley Owen was a passenger with James and as she got out of the automobile, the deputy saw Ashley put something in her mouth, believed to be a pill before swallowing it. The officer found other pills on Ashley including Hydrocodone along with a needle.

Jessica Owen was also a passenger and had on her person a bottle of 51 pills believed to be Hydrocodone. Owen, who had no prescription for the drugs, has been convicted before for the sale and delivery of the schedule II drug Oxycodone. As Jessica got out of the vehicle, she too put a Hydrocodone pill in her mouth and tried to swallow it but the officer was able to retrieve it. He also found in her possession a needle and glass pipes with residue.

Department activity as of 4/17/2019

A Sparta man led law enforcement authorities on a pursuit last Friday after being pulled over on a traffic stop. 25 year old Joshua Andrew Hudson is charged with evading arrest and reckless endangerment. His bond is $25,000 and he will make a court appearance April 25. On April 12 a deputy spotted Hudson’s vehicle near the White County line on Highway 70 and tried to initiate a traffic stop. Hudson was the driver but another man was also in the automobile. After the officer turned on his emergency lights and siren Hudson pulled over at a business just across the county line in White County but never came to a complete stop before merging back onto the highway heading toward Sparta. Another DeKalb County deputy then began a pursuit of the vehicle and was joined in the chase by a White County deputy and a THP state trooper. Although the DeKalb County officer terminated his pursuit near Highway 111, the other officers continued the chase but could not catch up with Hudson, who was exceeding speeds of up to 100 miles per hour and passing other traffic. They found his abandoned vehicle later that night. The following day Hudson and another person were spotted walking along the road in White County and were taken into custody.

38 year old Christie Dawn Bouldin of Village Place, Smithville is charged with public intoxication. Her bond is $1,500 and she will make a court appearance May 2. On April 14 a deputy was called to the Liberty Stop N Buy on Nashville Highway due to a possible argument. Upon arrival the officer learned that Bouldin was involved in the argument and that she had been part of a previous disturbance. Bouldin showed signs of intoxication including altered speech and she was very fidgety.

48 year old Ricky Lane Evans of Pea Ridge Road, Liberty is charged with driving under the influence, evading arrest, and a 3rd offense of driving on a suspended license. Evans’ bond is $11,000 and his court date is May 2. On April 10 a deputy tried to stop a black Volkswagen Jetta for a light law violation on Short Mountain Highway near Whorton Springs Road but the driver of the car wouldn’t pull over. The officer activated his emergency lights and sirens and after following the car for about three miles it finally came to a stop on New Home Road. The deputy spoke with the driver Evans, who had a strong odor of alcohol coming from his person. Evans refused to submit to field sobriety tasks. A computer check through central dispatch revealed that his license were

Department activity as of 04/15/2019

A Smithville man was busted on a methamphetamine charge during a recent traffic stop
48 year old John Thomas Bailey of Short Mountain Highway, Smithville was arrested on April 9th for possession of methamphetamine with intent to manufacture, sell, or deliver. He was also cited for simple possession of another drug and paraphernalia. Bailey’s bond is $10,000 and he will make a court appearance on May 9. Bailey was a passenger of a maroon Mazda car stopped by a deputy for having a head light out. The driver gave the deputy consent to search and he found four baggies of a crystal like substance on the floor board directly in front of the rear passenger. The total weight of the four bags was 4.6 grams. Bailey admitted that the drugs belonged to him. Another small baggie containing a piece of a white pill was recovered from inside a cigarette pack in the car door. Two needles were also found inside the vehicle.

Meanwhile, 35 year old Anthony Joe Hamilton of Luttrell Avenue, Smithville was arrested after being indicted by the grand jury earlier this month for possession of methamphetamine with intent to manufacture, sell, or deliver. His bond is $50,000 and he will make a court appearance June 4.

Department activity as of 04/11/2019

A drunk driver with two small children in his car was pulled over by a deputy Sunday and charged with reckless endangerment, driving on a revoked license, and a second offense of driving under the influence. 37 year old Ricardo Carabeo of Vaughn Lane, Smithville is under a $7,500 bond and he will make a court appearance April 25. On April 7 a deputy spotted a small maroon colored car failing to maintain its lane of travel. He stopped the vehicle and spoke with the driver, Carabeo who had a strong odor of an alcoholic beverage on his person. Carabeo had two small children in the car with him. He performed poorly on field sobriety tasks. A computer check through central dispatch revealed that his driver license were revoked for a DUI earlier this year.
22 year old Jesus Antonio Rosas and Guldino Lazano are charged with public intoxication. Rosas’ bond is $1,500 while Lazana is under a $2,500 bond. Both will make a court appearance April 25. On April 7 a deputy was dispatched to Sparta Highway on a report of a black truck which had run off the roadway. Upon arrival the officer found Rosas and Lazano who was very unsteady on their feet and both smelled of alcohol. As Rosas was being placed under arrest, Lazano became argumentative and pushed the deputy. Both Rosas and Lazano were taken into custody for their safety and that of the public.
39 year old James Cary Hicks, Jr. of Holmes Creek Road, Smithville is charged with filing a false report. His bond is $2,500 and he will make a court appearance April 18. On April 1 a deputy went to Hicks’ residence to serve a warrant on a woman there. Upon arrival the officer knocked on the door and Hicks answered. The deputy inquired about the woman but Hicks said she was not there but was down the road at a friend’s house. While waiting nearby for the woman to return, the officer later saw her coming out of Hicks’ home.
43 year old Amanda Kay Roberts of Church Street, Alexandria is charged with violation of bond conditions. She is under a $2,500 bond and her court date is April 18. On April 1 a deputy went to Roberts’ home to place her under arrest due to active warrants against her. Upon arrival the officer found another woman in the residence with Roberts in violation of active bond conditions to stay away from each other.

Department activity as of 04/08/2019

A Liberty woman will have a lot of explaining to do when she goes to court after stealing a car, using a stolen debit card four times, and then assaulting another prisoner after going to jail. 20 year old Emma Leigh Flesher of West Main Street, Liberty is charged with burglary, theft of property over $1,000, and 4 counts of fraudulent use of a debit/credit card. Her bond is $29,000 and she will make a court appearance on April 11. One of his detectives was recently contacted by an officer of the Cannon County Sheriff’s Office informing him that a stolen vehicle from DeKalb County had been found there. Flesher, in possession of the car, was questioned. Flesher admitted to taking the 2001 Chevy Impala from Parkway Drive, Smithville on March 30 and she allegedly used the same victim’s debit card in the following amounts and locations all on March 31:
*Gulf Quick Shop Market in Woodbury for $14.36
*McDonalds in Woodbury for $15.62
*Walmart in Murfreesboro for $194.63.
*Shell gas station in Murfreesboro for $5.00
After being incarcerated, Flesher and two other inmates, 26 year old Natalie Gail Barrett of Miller Road, Smithville and 40 year old Rebecca Sue Pelfrey of East Broad Street, Smithville ganged up on another prisoner, pulling the woman off a top bunk in the cell before hitting and kicking her in the back and head while she was on the floor. All three women were charged with assault and will make a court appearance on April 18. Each is under a $2,500 bond.

In another case:

An outburst by an inmate during a recent criminal court proceeding has landed the prisoner in more trouble with the law. 26 year old Nathaniel Dylan Tippens of Page Drive, Smithville is charged with assault and disorderly conduct. His bond is $10,000 and he will make an appearance in General Sessions Court on these charges April 11. Tippens became so disruptive while criminal court was in session last Monday, April 1 he had to be forcibly removed from the courtroom. On the way out Tippens kicked the courtroom doors screaming racial slurs and making threats toward the Sheriff’s Department’s Chief Deputy Robert Patrick, who is African American, and another officer, Joe Pack, who were escorting Tippens back to the jail. Tippens, who is in jail on other charges, was in court for a scheduled appearance and seated in the jury box with other prisoners as is typical for a court proceeding. After propping his feet up on a barrier in front of him, a court officer asked Tippens to put his feet back on the floor but he ignored the officer. Because of his behavior, Chief Deputy Patrick ordered Tippens to stand for escort back to the jail. Before leaving the room, Tippens, in the custody of Chief Deputy Patrick and Officer Pack, kicked the courtroom doors on his way out. Once in the hallway Tippens refused to walk forcing the deputies to drag him out of the courthouse to the jail. Along the way, Tippens screamed racial slurs at Chief Deputy Patrick, using the “N” word. He further threatened to kill the Chief Deputy’s kids and wife and burn down his home. Tippens also threatened Officer Pack. All this behavior was in plain view of the public. Tippens’ last brush with the law was on March 27 when a deputy had to chase him down on foot after Tippens tried to avoid being arrested. In that case Tippens was charged with resisting stop, frisk, halt, arrest. His bond is on that charge is $7,500 and he will make a court appearance on April 11. On March 27 a deputy approached Tippens on College Street in Liberty to serve active warrants against him. When told he would have to go to jail, Tippens ran from the deputy trying to get away. The deputy gave chase for about 100 yards before catching up with Tippens and placing him in custody.

Department activity as of 04/01/2019

A man was arrested during a traffic stop Sunday after he tried to throw away a container of marijuana to keep a deputy from finding it. 25 year old Christopher Jones of Davis Street, Smithville is charged with tampering with evidence. He is under a $25,000 bond and his court date is April 18. On Sunday, March 31 a deputy conducted a traffic stop of a vehicle for failing to maintain its lane of travel. Jones was a passenger. The deputy detected an odor or burnt marijuana coming from the automobile. Jones, the driver, and another passenger were asked to exit the vehicle. As Jones got out, the officer saw him throw a container about 20 feet into a ditch. The deputy recovered the container which held a green leafy substance believed to be marijuana. Jones was placed under arrest for trying to destroy the evidence.

41 year old Gary Ray Ashford of Goodner Lane, Alexandria is charged with public intoxication. His bond is $1,500 and he will make a court appearance on April 11. On March 25 a deputy, while checking out a report of a reckless driver, spotted a vehicle on the side of the road on Nashville Highway. Ashford was standing beside the automobile. The officer stopped to talk to Ashford and noticed a strong odor of alcohol coming from his person. Ashford was unsteady on his feet and his speech was slurred. Ashford said his wife had been driving the car but had left him there and taken the keys with her. However another officer at the scene found the keys in a ditch beside the car.

36 year old Heather Trigg Frederick of Pine Grove Road, Smithville is charged with domestic assault. She is under a $2,500 bond and her court date is March 11. On March 25 a deputy was dispatched to a residence on Students Home Road due to a complaint of a domestic assault. Upon arrival the officer spoke with the complainant who said that he and Frederick (his wife) had been drinking. He said Frederick became angry after he consumed her drinks and hit him in the head with her fist. Frederick’s version of the story was that after taking a nap she awoke and got into an argument with her husband and that she hit him in the head. There were no visible injuries and the man refused to have EMS take him to the hospital.

34 year old Sebrena Michelle Tate of Lower Helton Road, Alexandria is charged with public intoxication. Her bond is $1,500 and she will make a court appearance on April 18. On March 30 a deputy was called to Obie Adcock Road due to a woman with a flashlight walking in the road. The deputy and other officers spotted the woman (Tate) and stopped to speak with her. She was unsteady on her feet. Her speech was slurred and her pupils were constricted. Tate said she saw people around her but the officers concluded she was hallucinating as there was actually no one with her. She declined medical treatment and was placed under arrest.

41 year old Alton Brian Bundy of Woodbury is charged with a 4th offense of driving under the influence. Bundy’s bond is $10,000 and his court date is April 18. On March 31 a deputy was called to McMinnville Highway to look for a possible intoxicated driver who was observed leaving and then coming back onto the roadway. The officer stopped the vehicle for failure to maintain lane of travel. The driver, Bundy, had a strong odor of alcohol coming his person and his eyes were red and watery. Bundy, who was unsteady on his feet, performed poorly on field sobriety tasks. After refusing to give blood for a test, a search warrant was obtained to get a blood sample from him.