The DeKalb County Sheriff’s Department had a busy week last week, making several arrests for burglary, DUI, and domestic cases.
Sheriff Patrick Ray told the Smithville Review that 53-year-old Timothy Scott Bruner of Howell Street, Sparta, was arrested on November 8, for driving under the influence first offense. He is under a $1,500 bond and is due in court on December 2.
A DeKalb County Sheriff’s Department detective allegedly witnessed Bruner driving a black Ford F-150 on South Congress Boulevard, when a citizen informed the detective that they believed Bruner to be intoxicated. The detective observed Bruner cross the white line on the right side of the roadway, and his registration was also expired.
The detective conducted a traffic stop and spoke with the driver, Bruner, who reportedly had slow speech and glassy, watery eyes. Bruner reportedly refused a field sobriety test and implied consent. There were open containers of beer visible from the outside of the vehicle. Bruner was placed in custody.
That same day, 36-year-old Nicholas Cody Walls of Coconut Ridge Road, Smithville was arrested for a violation of an order of protection. He is under a $2,500 bond and is due to appear in court on December 2.
Sheriff Ray said that a deputy was dispatched to Coconut Ridge Road on a call of a domestic dispute between a mother and son. Upon his arrival, and determining the incident to be a verbal argument only, the deputy discovered through Central Dispatch an active order of protection was in place against Walls, with the caller being the protected party.
The following day, 42-year-old Russell Shannon Estes of Short Mountain Highway, Smithville, was charged with aggravated assault.
A deputy received a report from a female, who was allegedly Estes’ girlfriend, which stated that on November 7, 2021, she and Estes had been in an argument. During the argument Estes became irate and began strangling the woman. Authorities say the female had bruises around neck and throat.
Estes is under a $5,000 bond and is due in court on December 2.
On November 10, 37-year-old Joshua Walter Hodges of Old Post Road, McMinnville, was arrested on a fugitive from justice warrant.
While being incarcerated at the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Department, Hodges was found to have an active warrant for his arrest out of the State of Alabama, with nationwide extradition confirmed. The correctional officer issued a fugitive from justice warrant due to the information.
Hodges is under a $50,000 bond and is due in court on December 2
The following day, 60-year-old James Rick Ashford Sr. was arrested for aggravated burglary and theft of property. He is under a $6,500 total bond and is set to appear in court on December 2.
Sheriff Ray said that on November 10, Ashford entered a home and stole property on Big Woods Road. A deputy responded to the home, where the victim advised that Ashford had come to the property and entered the home through the back door without permission or announcement.
Once inside, Ashford reportedly became irate and began acting aggressive towards the victims. Witnesses in the home intervened and deescalated the situation. Ashford then left the residence, and afterwards the victim noticed their phone missing from the kitchen where they had placed it.
While on the scene, Ashford reportedly called another resident at the home and admitted to having the phone. Ashford’s blood was also located on the back door where he entered the home. The phone was valued at $400.
On November 11, 44-year-old Harry Carlson McIntosh of Old Bildad Road, Smithville, was charged with violation of bond conditions. He is under a $2,500 bond and his court date is set for December 2.
A deputy was dispatched to Old Bildad Road for a welfare check on a female. When the deputy made contact with a female, she advised she was okay. The deputy asked if anyone else was at the residence, and if he could enter the residence, due to prior knowledge of domestic violence. The female stated that no one else was there.
During a walkthrough of the home the deputy noticed a male subject hiding behind the couch. He was identified as McIntosh, who had bond conditions for no contact with the female. He was placed in custody.
