The DeKalb County Sheriff’s Department made several arrests last week, including one man charged with assaulting his former foster parent and his daughter.

Sheriff Patrick Ray told the Smithville Review that on June 2, 22-year-old Garrett Nicolas Vallem of Megan Olivia Way, McMinnville, was arrested for two counts of aggravated assault. He is under a $20,000 and he will be in court on June 22.

On June 1, a deputy responded to Old Bildad Road for a report of a 911 call wrong number. Upon arrival, the deputy made contact with a male, and his daughter, who advised that his previous foster child, Vallem, showed up to his house drunk and had started arguing with him.

During the argument, Vallem allegedly stood up and hit the male multiple times on his arms, ribs and face. The victim also reported that Vallem put his hands around his neck in an attempt to strangle him. The victim stated that while this was happening, he felt light-headed to the point of nearly going unconscious.

The female attempted to break up the fight, at which point Vallem allegedly hit her and grabbed her by the throat, attempting to strangle her. The female also stated that while this was happening, she was gasping for air and could not breath, feeling at though she might pass out.

Authorities say the male victim had red marks on his neck and the side of his head, as well as a cut on his elbow and head, while the female also showed red marks around her neck.

On May 23, 36-year-old Timothy Leon Summers Jr. of Midway Road, Smithville, was arrested for filing a false report. He is under a $5,000 bond and will be in court on June 8.

A deputy responded to New Bildad Road, Smithville, to attempt to locate a female under an active warrant. Upon arrival, the deputy made contact with Summers, who advised the female was not at the residence, and was at her mother’s house.

After speaking with Summers, deputies noticed the female walk out of the residence and was placed in custody. Summers was then arrested for filing a false report to law enforcement.

On May 24, 28-year-old Chase Allen Fults of Pace Street, McMinnville, was arrested for evading arrest by vehicle. He is under a $7,500 bond and is due in court on June 7.

On April 30, 2023, a deputy was patrolling Sparta Highway when the deputy noticed a black car traveling at a high rate of speed, and leaving its lane of travel several times. The deputy initiated his lights and siren in an attempt to stop the vehicle, but the driver refused to stop.

The driver of the car, then failed to negotiate a curve, crashed and the driver was then identified as Fults. Fults was injured in the crash, and authorities waited to arrest him until he was out of the hospital.

On May 25, 50-year-old Daniel Lee Pickford of Clemet City, MI, was arrested as a fugitive from justice. He is under a $75,000 bond and he appeared in court on June 1.

Sheriff Ray said that Pickford was the passenger in a vehicle during a traffic stop. A check of the man’s name through NCIC, revealed Pickford to have a felony warrant out of Michigan for a failing to pay child support. Michigan officials confirmed the warrant and advised extradition.