It was a busy March for DeKalb County Sheriff’s Department officials, with deputies making several arrests for DUI, drugs, and assaults.

Sheriff Patrick Ray told the Smithville Review that on March 2, 34-year-old Jeremy Trent Sanders of Tricia Place, Murfreesboro, was arrested for driving under the influence. He is under a $2,000 bond and is due in court on March 14.

A deputy was at a business on Sparta Highway on a prior call. While there, Sanders walked up to law enforcement, allegedly acting belligerent with a strong odor of alcohol coming from his person.

Sanders was asked to leave while officers conducted an investigation, and he did, but returned once again allegedly acting belligerent. He was asked once more to leave, and he did.

As the investigation continued, a gray Nissan Altima pulled into the front of Midnight Express with Sanders as the driver. He was removed from the vehicle, allegedly with bloodshot eyes and slurred speech. He refused field sobriety tasks and implied consent, and was placed in custody.

On March 3, 22-year-old Fredy Santiego Guendulain of West Main Street, Smithville, was arrested for DUI first offense and having no driver license. He is under a $2,000 bond and his court date is set for March 14.

A deputy was traveling west on Sparta Highway when he noticed a gray Ford Focus leave its lane of travel multiple times, almost running off the roadway into a field area.

After conducting a traffic stop, the deputy made contact with the driver, Guendulain, who allegedly had a strong odor of alcohol coming from his person, bloodshot eyes, slurred speech, and very unsteady on his feet.

With the location of the stop being a safety risk to the defendant, field sobriety tasks were not performed and he was placed under arrest.

On March 5, 55-year-old Jeffery Lee Bates of Bright Hill Road, Smithville, was arrested for aggravated assault. He is under a $7,500 bond, and he is set to appear in court on March 21.

A deputy responded to a call of an unwanted guest on Midway Road, Smithville. Upon arrival, the deputy made contact with Bates standing on the porch of the residence. After speaking with Bates, the deputy made contact with the caller who reported that Bates had pulled a knife on her neighbor.

The deputy made contact with a female who alleged that Bates had pulled a knife and pointed it at her chest. The woman stated that she was in fear for her life. Bates was then placed under arrest.

The following day, 22-year-old Ivy Leigh Crim of Madison Pike, Murfreesboro, was arrested for contributing to the delinquency of a minor. She as a $5,000 bond and she is due in court on March 21.

Sheriff Ray said that on or about October 28, 2022, on Tiger Drive in Smithville, just out from the DeKalb County Health Department, Crim, a passenger, and the owner of a 2014 Ford Escape, picked up two juveniles that had just left the DeKalb County High School without permission to run away from their current homes.

Both juveniles were on probation in DeKalb County, and jumped into the rear passenger side door and left in the vehicle. Both juveniles were entered into NCIC.

On March 7, 27-year-old Ricky Lee Rogers of Viola Road, McMinnville, was arrested on a violation of an order of protection. He is under a $5,000 bond and his court date is set for March 21.

Authorities say that on March 6, a deputy responded to Ridgeview Trail in the Austin Bottoms area for a vehicle accident without injuries. The deputy made contact with Rogers, who was a passenger in the vehicle. The man allegedly had slurred speech, bloodshot eyes, and was unable to stand on his feet, appearing to be under the influence of alcohol.

Authorities say Rogers admitted to consuming alcohol, and after giving the man’s information to Central Dispatch, it revealed Rogers under an active order of protection, served on November 19, 2023, with him as the respondent and a female as the petitioner. The order stated that Rogers was forbidden to possess or consume alcohol. He was then placed in custody.

That same day, 24-year-old Lucas Robert Croom of Wenger Lane, Smithville, was charged with possession of drug paraphernalia, driving on revoked, evading arrest, and simple possession of a schedule III drug.

A deputy attempted to conduct a traffic stop on a purple Ford Ranger for failure to maintain its lane of travel. The truck failed to stop and after a pursuit it wrecked on Cordell Love Road in Smithville. The driver, Croom was taken into custody.

A search of the vehicle resulted in the discovery of a pink pill in a clear baggy, believed to be Suboxone in the floor of the truck. A black scale, a spoon, and a red cylinder container, all with residue, were also found. It was also discovered that Croom’s license had been suspended.

Croom is under a $20,000 bond and he is set for court on March 28.

Also, that day, 53-year-old William Bradley Stoker of Midway Road, Smithville, was arrested for theft of property. He is under a $10,000 bond and he is due in court on March 21.

On or about March 3, authorities alleged that Stoker took a 2003 Ford Mustang, valued at $5,700, from a residence on Midway Road without the owner’s consent. Deputies located the vehicle in Stoker’s possession on March 7 by Sheriff’s detectives.

On March 9, 46-year-old Jasper Robert Lee Beasly of High Street, Alexandria, was arrested for DUI. He is under a $3,500 bond, and is set for a court appearance on March 21.

The previous day, Beasly was driving a 2014 GMC Sierra on Shady Lane and High Street in Alexandria. The man was reportedly unsteady on his feet, had slurred speech, and bloodshot eyes. He allegedly admitted to consuming alcohol and taking morphine and oxycodone. He was unable to perform field sobriety tasks and he was placed in custody.

Also on March 9, 39-year-old Phillip Michael Scarsellone of Old Mill Hill, Dowelltown, was charged with domestic assault. He is under a $3,500 bond and due in court on March 21.

A deputy responded to Old Mill Hill Road in response to a report of a domestic. Upon arrival, the deputy made contact with Scarsellone and a female. Authorities say Scarsellone made physical contact with the female by shoving her, causing her to fear for her safety.

On March 10, 21-year-old Ricardo Camacho Desirena of Judkins Lane, Smithville, was arrested for consumption of alcohol under 21 years of age, and no driver’s license. He is under a $6,000 bond and he is due in court on March 28.