A Springfield, Tennessee woman is facing a laundry list of charges after leading local deputies on a multi-county pursuit last Saturday.
DeKalb County Sheriff Patrick Ray said that 35-year-old Kaleigha Beth Arnold of Black Road, Springfield, is under a $58,000 bond and is due in court on May 25. She is charged with promotion of methamphetamine manufacture, possession of drug paraphernalia, possession of burglary tools, simple possession of a schedule IV drug, driving on a suspended license, DUI first offense, evading arrest in a vehicle, reckless endangerment, implied consent, and simple possession of a schedule I drug.
Authorities say that on May 6, a deputy was traveling east on Highway 70, when he observed a silver Honda Pilot failing to maintain its lane of travel. The deputy ran the tag through Central Dispatch, who confirmed the vehicle to be stolen out of Smithville.
The deputy attempted to conduct a traffic stop of the vehicle, but the SUV failed to stop. Authorities pursued the vehicle down Highway 70 with the car almost striking multiple vehicles. The chase continued into White County, where White County deputies deployed spike strips at Old Kentucky Road.
Despite the SUV running over the spike strips, the vehicle continued east where Arnold rammed two White County vehicles before authorities were able to stop the car. Arnold was extracted from the vehicle and detained.
Arnold allegedly admitted to stealing the Pilot, along with taking heroin two hours prior to driving and being in possession of narcotics and paraphernalia.
A search of the vehicle was conducted and a black, zip-up bag was found containing a glass Mason jar, with used brown paper towels, moisture, clear tubing, and a glass beaker wrapped in electrical tape. Coffee filters were found in the pocket of the bag, as well as red phosphorus and multiple matchbooks. All items were consistent with the production of methamphetamines.
Two syringes, a glass pipe with residue, a set of scales and multiple other items used for narcotic were also found, along with a bag containing a lock pick kit. A red, green, and black container was found containing an orange-colored substance believed to be heroin. In the center console, a red Swisher Sweet package contained 34 yellow pills believed to be Gabapentin.
Arnold has two prior convictions of simple possession by the THP and 23rd District Drug Task Force. Her license had also been suspended in Robertson County for failure to satisfy fines.
In other sheriff’s news, on April 30, 33-year-old Aaron Mitchell Washer of Juniper Lane, Smithville, was arrested for domestic assault, vandalism, and violation of an order of protection. He is under a $7,000 bond and is due to appear in court on May 18.
Sheriff Ray said that deputy responded to the DeKalb County Jail to speak with a female in reference to a domestic assault. The female advised that Washer approached her vehicle at Four Seasons Marina and broke her driver’s side window out of her car and struck her in the face. Authorities report that the woman did have swelling around her right eye, to which she wrote a voluntary statement reporting the offense.
The deputy then went to the scene of the incident where he reported finding glass shards in the parking lot in the area where the woman advised that she was parked. The deputy also found Washer in the area where the woman reported he walked after the incident. The woman had an active order of protection against Washer.
On May 1, 53-year-old Andy Dale Shelton of Shiloh Lane, Smithville, was charged with two counts of aggravated assault, vandalism under $1,000, and possession of a prohibited weapon. He is under a $12,000 bond and he will be in court on May 18.
A deputy responded to Shiloh Lane on a report of an altercation between neighbors, and made contact with the complainants who reported that their neighbor, Shelton, had come on their property and ripped up their property marker stakes, that had been placed the day before by a surveying company, which cost $300. They also reported that Shelton had verbally threatened to hit them as well as burn their house with them inside.
Shelton also allegedly struck a male with his fist and with a stake that had been removed from the property line. During the assault, Shelton allegedly had a set of brass knuckles in his right hand while threatening the neighbors. The incident was recorded on video, which the deputies reviewed on the phones of the victims.
On April 25, 42-year-old Eddy Deloyde Farris of Andrews Street, Smithville, was arrested for evading arrest, driving on a suspended license, and reckless endangerment. He is under a $16,000 bond and will be in court on May 11.
Sheriff Ray said that a deputy observed a black GMC truck, driven by Farris, run a stop sign and proceed down Jacobs Pillar Road at a high rate of speed. After the deputy activated his lights and sirens, Farris reportedly accelerated and refused to stop in an attempt to avoid arrest.
During the pursuit, authorities say that Farris crossed the centerline of the roadway and drove on the wrong side of the road, multiple times, putting the general public at risk of eminent danger. His driver’s license came back as suspended
On April 27, 47-year-old Michael Lorimer Edwards of Pine Grove Road, Smithville, was charged with DUI first offense. He is under a $3,500 bond and will be in court on May 25.
A deputy was sitting at the First Assembly of God Church, on Highway 56 North, when he observed the driver of a white GMC Yukon appear to be passed out behind the wheel and failing to maintain his lane of travel. Authorities say the vehicle was swerving into oncoming traffic.
After a traffic stop, the driver was identified as Edwards, who allegedly appeared to be under the influence of an intoxicant with constricted eyes and slurred speech. He consented to field sobriety tasks, of which he performed poorly.
