The man involved in a roll-over crash on Midway Road, while trying to run from deputies was charged last week on drug charges.

The crash occurred on Wednesday, December 27, when 52-year-old Chad Knowles of the Loop Circle, Smithville was driving a 2003 Chevy Trail Blazer west on Midway Road at a high rate of speed when he lost control of his vehicle while negotiating a curve. The vehicle overturned, coming to rest on its top. Knowles was transported to Saint Thomas DeKalb Hospital.

According to Sheriff Patrick Ray, “A deputy spotted Knowles driving and knowing that he did not have a valid driver license the officer activated his blue lights and siren and got in pursuit but instead of stopping, Knowles accelerated in a reckless manner to avoid arrest.”

“After the crash, the officer searched Knowles’ vehicle and found a black digital scale with drug residue. During a pat down search, the deputy also recovered from Knowles’ pocket a clear baggie containing a single white pill believed to be Hydromorphone along with two other baggies that held a white crystal-like substance believed to be methamphetamine that weighed 8.59 grams and yet another clear baggie containing eight peach-colored pills thought to be Buprenorphine and 6.2 grams of a green leafy substance believed to be marijuana. A background check through central dispatch confirmed that Knowles’ driver license was revoked.”

After being released from the hospital, Knowles was charged with possession of drug paraphernalia; possession of a schedule II controlled substance for sale or delivery; possession of methamphetamine with intent to manufacture, sell or deliver; evading arrest; possession of a schedule III drug with intent to manufacture, sell or deliver; simple possession of a schedule VI drug; and a second offense of driving on a revoked license. He is under a $90,000 total bond and will be in court on January 18.

On December 28, 64-year-old Robert Earl Nimmons of Tabernacle Road, Smithville was arrested under a Grand Jury sealed indictment with three counts of aggravated sexual battery, and two counts of soliciting sexual exploitation of a minor under the age of 13. The alleged crimes occurred on May 1, 2023.  He is under a $200,000 bond, and is to in criminal court on January 29.

On December 30, 30-year-old Dillian Tyler Hasty of Oakley Hollow Road, Alexandria was arrested for domestic assault and interfering with an emergency call. He is under an $8,000 bond.

Sheriff Ray said a deputy responded to Oakley Hollow Road in response to an active domestic assault in progress. Upon arrival, the deputy made contact with the victim who stated that she and her husband, Hasty, had got into a physical confrontation, when she was struck several times in the face.

The victim allegedly had visible scratches and red marks on her face and a busted lip. The deputy determined that Hasty was the primary aggressor and he was taken into custody for domestic assault.

The deputy also learned that when the victim initially called 911, Hasty allegedly grabbed and broke her phone in an attempt to keep her from contacting emergency services. Children were present during the altercation and a referral was made to the state department of children services.

On January 2, 40-year-old Jennifer Jeane Duff of Lonnie Cantrell Road, Smithville, was arrested for simple possession of a schedule II drug, possession of drug paraphernalia, and criminal impersonation.

A deputy was patrolling on Midway Road when he noticed a black Nissan Frontier run a stop sign. After conducting a traffic stop the deputy made contact a passenger, Duff. When asked what her name was, the woman allegedly gave the name of Cecily Warner with a date of birth as April 19, 1989. When checked through central dispatch, the name came back not on file. Her real name was later discovered through a further investigation, and she allegedly admitted to lying about her name due to having warrants out of Cannon County.

Upon conducting a pat down search of her person, authorities found a pink and black container with three orange and white pills believed to be Lisdexamfretamin, along with a handkerchief with a pipe with a clear crystal-like residue, and another pipe with marijuana residue in it. 

Huff is under a $10,000 bond and she is due in court on January 25.

On January 3, 41-year-old Willie Ray Murphy of West Bryant Street, Smithville, was arrested for driving on a revoked or suspended license, and methamphetamine manufacture deliver sell or possess.

A deputy was patrolling Sparta Highway when he witnessed a white Lincoln pass him heading eastbound. The deputy had prior knowledge that the owner of the vehicle, Murphy, had a suspended license, and that the tag on the vehicle did not match the registration. As the deputy turned around, the Lincoln hit its brakes and turned onto Curtis Road.

The vehicle was found parked in the driveway of a residence with the driver’s seat empty, and a male subject jogging down the road. The deputy stopped the subject, Murphy, who allegedly told the deputy that he was driving his girlfriend home.  

The deputy walked back along the way he had seen Murphy running and found a silver container laying on top of some leaves. The area around the container had frost while the container itself was warm to the touch with no frost. Inside was a clear baggie with a clear crystal-like substance believed to be meth, weight 5.25 grams.

Murphy in under a $53,500 bond, and he is due in court on January 25.

That same day, 31-year-old Ashley Nicole Mingle of West Main Street, Smithville, was arrested for theft of property, and fraudulent use of a credit card.

Sheriff Ray said that between September 15, 2023 and October 5, 2023, Mingle took a Samsung S21 cell phone, a canvas print, and a debit card valued at $264 from a victim on Holmes Creek Road, Smithville. Between October 1, 2023, and October 17, 2023, Mingle allegedly used a Regions debit card without the victim’s permission at various online and local businesses for a total amount of $1,165.11.

The case was investigated by a Sheriff’s Department detective. Mingle is under a $10,000 bond.

On January 7, 19-year-old Jesus Petriz Calvo of Adcock Cemetery Road, Smithville, was arrested for no driver’s license twice in the same day. He is under a $5,000 total bond, and he is set to appear in court on January 25.

A deputy was patrolling East Broad Street when he witnesses Calvo operating a red Chevy S10. The deputy had prior knowledge that Calvo did not have a driver’s license, due to multiple tickets and warnings. After conducting a traffic stop, the deputy confirmed Calvo did not have a driver’s license. Booked into the jail at 1:05 pm.

Later that day, another deputy observed Calvo driving a red Chevrolet S10 on Midway Road, near the intersection of Curtis Road. This deputy also had prior knowledge that Calvo did not have a valid driver’s license. After a traffic stop, a check through Central dispatch confirmed Calvo had no license, and had been arrested just four hours prior for the same offense. He was booked into the jail this time at 4:09 pm.

Also on January 7, 51-year-old Kristie Lynette Morton of Yolanda Hills Road, Smithville was arrested for aggravated assault. She is under a $7,500 bond and she is due in court on January 25.

A deputy responded to the sheriff’s office to speak with a subject who reported going to an address on Allens Ferry Road, where a verbal altercation between the victim and another male ensued.

Morton, who was on the scene, then allegedly fired a .40 caliber Astra handgun into the air, placing the victim in fear of imminent bodily injury.