The DeKalb County Sheriff’s Department and the Smithville Police Department have joined forces, working together to tackle the local drug scene. In a press release, Sheriff Patrick Ray and Chief Mark Collins said that this is just the beginning of their campaign against illegal narcotics.
Over the course of the last few months, members of the newly formed Drug Task Force, consisting of officers of the Smithville Police and the DeKalb Sheriff’s Department executed several search warrants within the last few months.
On March 22, 2024, 32-year-old Joshua McAllen Beckham of White Street, Smithville was arrested for sale and delivery of methamphetamine, possession of drug paraphernalia, alteration of a serial number on a weapon, and being an armed and dangerous felon. At the time of his arrest, he was given a $61,500 bond.
Sheriff Ray said that while executing a search at 303 White Street, known to be occupied by Beckham, a Harrington and Richardson 20-gauge shotgun with the serial number removed, was found in Beckham’s bedroom. Upon contact with Beckham, 1.6 grams of meth, several small baggies consistent with the resale of narcotics, and miscellaneous drug paraphernalia items, as well as a Cobra FS380 handgun was found in his possession. He has since pled guilty in the case.
On May 31, 60-year-old James Bullard of King Ridge Road, Dowelltown, was arrested for possession of methamphetamine, Xanax, buprenorphine, and marijuana, and possession of drug paraphernalia. At the time of his arrest, he was under a $97,500 bond.
Sheriff Ray said that law enforcement executed a search warrant at 1429 King Ridge Road, Dowelltown. While conducting a search of the residence, two plastic baggies containing a white crystal substance believed to be meth, three pieces of yellow pills thought to be Xanax, and four and a half orange pills believed to be buprenorphine were located in a magnetic box in a bedroom. The search also produced, glass pipes, digital scales, a small glass jar and a metal container with white residue found inside the residence. During a search of Bullard himself, a plastic baggie containing a green leafy substance believed to be marijuana was found in his front left pants pocket. He has also pled guilty in the case.
Sheriff Ray said, “These are two cases of many that we have worked on, and more arrests are forth coming.”
Smithville Police Chief Mark Collins said, “True public safety requires a collaboration between the Police Department and Sheriff’s Department. Working together we are able to combine our resources and work force to better fight the war on drugs in our communities.”
Sheriff Ray added, “The Sheriff’s Department and Police Department are trying to do and use every available resource possible to disturb the distribution of narcotics. We are committed to our citizens to provide strict, but fair, law enforcement efforts concerning the sale and/or delivery of narcotics in our cities within DeKalb County.”
On June 17, the sheriff’s department teamed up with state officials to take down another suspected drug dealer.
The DeKalb County Sheriff’s Department, the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, members of the governor’s ERAD Task Force, and a K-9 unit from the McMinnville Police Department served a search warrant, located at 635 Allen Bend Road in Smithville, at the home of 29-year-old Anthony (AKA Rooster) Tate Miller Jr., and 26-year-old Bridget Nicole Selby.
On June 17, Miller was arrested for theft of property under $1,000, unlawful possession of a weapon, child abuse or neglect, possession of a controlled substance for sell delivery or manufacture hydrocodone, possession of drug paraphernalia, possession of marijuana, and possession of meth.
Sheriff’s Department detectives, along with other law enforcement officers, executed the search warrant at the residence, and while searching the garage on the property, located a Husqvarna back-pack leaf blower, which had been reported stolen from a home on Four Seasons Road on June 3.
Inside the home, 1.4 ounces of a crystal-like substance believed to be meth was located in close proximity to a child. Six oblong pills, believed to be hydrocodone were found, as well as various items of drug paraphernalia such as pipes, bongs, and scales. Approximately two pounds of a green leafy substance believed to be marijuana was found, along with THC manufacturing equipment.
In addition, Sheriff Ray said that 21 firearms were located inside the residence. Authorities say that Miller is a convicted felon from 2014, and was banned from possessing firearms.
Miller was under a $182,500 bond and appeared in court on June 20.
Selby was arrested on charges of child abuse or neglect. She is under a $7,500 bond
On June 21, the DeKalb Sheriff and Smithville Police Drug Task Force nabbed two more people after the task force executed a search warrant at 113 Dearman Street, Smithville.
According to Sheriff Ray and Chief Collins, 54-year-old Stacy Kay Campbell of West Greenhill Road, Smithville, was arrested for meth manufacture deliver sell or possess and possession of drug paraphernalia. She is under a $6,000 bond and she will appear in court on July 11.
Authorities say that during a search, meth was found inside a purse which also held an identification card belonging to Campbell. Paraphernalia, including a scale commonly used for weighing narcotics, a pipe with residue, and small baggies containing residue, were also found in a bedroom.
Also arrested at the scene was 25-year-old Hannah Leann Cantrell of Dearman Street, Smithville, was also arrested, charged with possession of drug paraphernalia. She is under a $2,500 bond and her court date is set for July 11.
Authorities say several items of drug paraphernalia were found in Campbell’s bedroom during the search, including scales, and several pipes and water bongs containing residue.
