It was a busy couple of weeks for DeKalb County deputies with several arrests made, including those for drugs, weapons, and sex offender charges.
Sheriff Patrick Ray told the Smithville Review that on April 4, 51-year-old Barry Preston Martin of Cantrell Cemetery Road, Smithville, was arrested for domestic assault. He is under a $2,500 bond and he is due to appear in court on April 18.
A deputy was dispatched to Cantrell Cemetery Road on a report of a domestic. Upon arrival, the deputy made contact with the victim who stated that she and Martin had been in an argument when Martin knocked her phone out of her hand and used his elbow to push her, putting her in fear for her life.
On April 9, 54-year-old Randall Eugene Tittle of South Mill Street, Dowelltown, was charged with methamphetamine manufacture, deliver, sell, or possess. He is under a $20,000 bond and is due in court on April 25.
A deputy was patrolling West Broad Street, Smithville, when he noticed a black Ford Ranger with a taillight out. After a traffic stop, the deputy made contact with Tittle who gave consent to search the vehicle.
The search resulted in the discovery of a large crystal-like rock substance believed to be meth, weighing .7 grams was located on the driver’s side in between the seat and middle console.
On April 10, 45-year-old James Ricky Ashford Jr., of Eckles Heights, Liberty, was charged with violation of the sex offender registry. He is under a $7,500 bond and he is to appear in court on April 25.
Authorities allege that Ashford picked up a child that he is not the parent or legal guardian of at DeKalb West School and left the property with the child in his vehicle. A detective with the sheriff’s department investigated the case. Sheriff Ray said Ashford gave the child a ride home, but it was against sex offender rules he is under.
That same day, 32-year-old Ricky Wesley Fults of Pea Ridge Road, Liberty, was arrested for aggravated assault. He is under a $5,000 bond and he is set to be in court on April 25.
A deputy was dispatched to a residence on a report of domestic violence. The victim reported that her boyfriend, Fults, was being physically abusive, and would not let her leave. While the victim was on the phone, Fults allegedly took the phone from the victim and advised dispatch the he, “would be gone by the time law enforcement would arrive.”
Upon arrival, the deputy spoke to the victim, who reported that she was physically assaulted and threatened with a firearm. The woman reported that Fults slammed her head into a wall, and authorities reported the woman having an abrasion above her right eyebrow, and a divot was in the wall where the victim reported the incident took place.
As .22 caliber pistol, reported to have been used by the victim, was recovered from the master bedroom closet. The gun and four live rounds were seized along with one spent casing.
On April 12, 26-year-old Louis David Lopez of Old West Point, Road, Smithville, was arrested for driving on a suspended driver’s license. He is under a $2,000 bond and his court date is set for May 2.
A deputy was patrolling Old West Point Road when he made contact with a white Ford Taurus. Having prior knowledge that the driver, Lopez, did not have a valid license, and with the vehicle having a busted taillight, the deputy conducted a traffic stop.
Dispatch confirmed that Lopez’s license was suspended for failure to file insurance in February 2024.
On April 13, 27-year-old Tanisha Danielle Bandy of East Main Street, Smithville, was charged with two counts of child abuse or neglect, driving on a revoked license, and DUI. She is under a $15,500 bond.
A deputy was traveling east on Sparta Highway, when he witnesses a black Chrysler leave its lane of travel, then turn their caution lights on as they pulled onto the opposite side of the roadway. The deputy made contact with the driver, Bandy, who reportedly had a strong odor of alcohol coming from her person, red watery eyes, slurred speech and was unsteady on her feet.
Bandy allegedly admitted to consuming alcohol prior to driving. She submitted to, but performed poorly on field sobriety tasks. An open container of alcohol was also located on the passenger’s side floorboard.
A check through Central Dispatch showed that Bandy’s license had been revoked, out of Tennessee in April 2022 for failure to comply with the financial responsibility law. Bandy also reportedly refused implied consent, and had two children in the vehicle at the time.
On April 14, 21-year-old Juan Emanuell Ramirez Martinez of Old Nashville Highway, McMinnville, was arrested for DUI. He is under a $2,000 bond and he is due in court on May 2.
A deputy was traveling north on McMinnville Highway, when he witnessed a Chevy Tahoe leave its lane of travel. The deputy conducted a traffic stop and made contact with the driver, Martinez, who allegedly had a strong odor of alcohol coming from his person. Authorities also say that multiple open containers were found in the vehicle, and admitted to consuming four beers prior to driving.
Authorities say Martinez had red watery eyes, slurred speech and was unsteady on his feet. He also reportedly refused field sobriety tasks, and he was taken into custody.
That same day, 61-year-old Lisa Karen Coffee was charged with contraband into a penal institution. She is under a $25,000 bond and she will be in court on May 2.
A correctional officer was booking Coffee through a Smithville Police case and began logging the woman’s property. In the woman’s purse was a clear baggie with a crystal-like substance believed to be meth weighing 1.22 grams was discovered. Coffee allegedly admitted to having meth.
Also on April 14, 30-year-old Alexis Anota Nandez of Smith Road, Smithville, was arrested for possession of a handgun while under the influence, simple possession of a schedule VI drug, possession of drug paraphernalia, and public intoxication. He is under a $14,000 bond and his court date is set for May 2.
A deputy was called to the Dry Creek swimming hole on a report of multiple people intoxicated and shooting guns. Upon arrival, the deputy made contact with multiple people including Nandez. Authorities say the man had a strong odor of alcohol and marijuana coming from his person, and admitted to smoking marijuana prior to their arrival. A search of the man’s vehicle allegedly produced containers with marijuana weighing 10.2 grams, two pipes with marijuana residue, along with a black High Point 9mm handgun.
