The DeKalb County Sheriff’s Department doesn’t get a break during the holiday season, and made several arrest, including a couple of people who allegedly stole electricity from Caney Fork Electric.
Sheriff Patrick Ray told the Smithville Review that on December 16, 33-year-old Molly Sue Lawrence of Page Drive, Smithville, was arrested for theft of services.
On February 5, 2021, Caney Fork Electric terminated their service at a residence on Page Drive in Smithville. On December 13, 2021, technicians discovered that the meter box had been tampered with and allege that Lawrence stole electric service from Caney Fork Electric in the amount of $1,805.95.
Lawrence is under a $20,000 bond and she is set to appear in court on January 16.
On December 22, 44-year-old Christopher Joe Bogle of Antioch Road, Smithville, was also charged with theft of services from the electric company.
On February 22, 2019, Caney Fork Electric terminated service at an address on Antioch Road. It was found that the meter box had been tampered with on December 2, 2021. Caney Fork Electric claims the amount stolen from their service is in the amount of $5,773.97.
Bogle is under a $7,500 bond and is due in court on January 6.
On December 15, 31-year-old David Micah Williams of Fuston Hollow Road, Auburntown, TN, was charged with criminal trespassing. He is under a $2,000 bond and is due to appear in court on January 6, 2022.
Sheriff Ray said that a deputy responded to Sparta Highway on a report of an intoxicated unwanted guest. Upon arrival, the deputy made contact with Williams, who, after being told to leave the premises, was trespassed per the owner of the property’s request. The deputy gave Williams multiple opportunities to leave the property, but Williams refused.
On December 17, 47-year-old Michael Willie Richmond, a homeless man in Smithville, was arrested for violation of the sex offender registry, and methamphetamine manufacture, deliver, sell of possess.
According to Sheriff Ray, Richmond was found at an address on East Broad Street in Smithville, and stated he had been living at the address since December 11, 2021. Officials say he had not reported the address in the time allotted slot of 45 hours to register a new address, per Tennessee Sex Offender rules.
Richmond was also found with an estimated 1.5 grams of a crystal-like substance believed to be meth, contained in several different pieces of paper and baggies. He is under a $25,000 bond and is due in court on January 6.
The following day, 39-year-old Jodie Wade Taylor, a homeless man in Smithville, was arrested on an indictment for two methamphetamine charges, and four possession of a controlled substance charges.
Also on December 18, 33-year-old Dustin Matthew Brewer was charged with public intoxication. He is under an OR bond and he is due in court on January 6, 2022.
Sheriff Ray said that a deputy responded to the 900 block of Keltonburg Road on a report of a man, wearing all black, walking in the roadway. The deputy made contact with Brewer, and due to his erratic behavior, the deputy believed the man to be under the influence of a controlled substance or intoxicated.
The deputy asked Brewer to perform standardized field sobriety tasks, but Brewer was reportedly unable to focus on instructions and unable to perform the tasks. For the safety of Brewer and the public, he was placed in custody.
Also that same day, 39-year-old Christian Antonio Avina of Foster Road, Smithville, was charged with driving under the influence. He is under a $1,500 bond and is set to appear in court on January 6.
Authorities say that a deputy noticed a blue Chevy truck traveling westbound on Highway 70, crossing the yellow line several times and jerking the steering wheel. The deputy conducted a traffic stop and found Avina appeared to be under the influence. After performing field sobriety tasks, he was placed under arrest. An inventory of Avina’s truck, revealed two glass pipes under the seat of the vehicle.
Also on December 18, 45-year-old Stacey Carroll Thompson of Beverly Drive, Madison, TN, was charged with DUI. She is under an OR bond and is due to appear in court on January 6.
A deputy conducted a traffic stop on a black Ford Escape for allegedly failing to maintain its lane of travel. Upon speaking with the driver, Thompson, authorities say she appeared drowsy and her speech was slow and slurred.
Thompson performed poorly on field sobriety tasks, and refused to take the rest of the test. She was placed under arrest and consented to an implied consent, but a search warrant for her blood was also obtained.
On December 19, 42-year-old Eric Steven Pollard of Otto Smith Road, McMinnville, was charged with evading arrest and for a warrant for possession of a prohibited weapon. He is under a $10,000 bond and he is set to appear in court on January 6.
Sheriff Ray said that a deputy attempted to stop a 1993 red Chevrolet driven by Pollard, who had active warrants out of DeKalb County. When the deputy attempted the stop, Pollard evaded, resulting in a pursuit.
The active warrant was for an incident that occurred on December 10, 2019. A deputy reportedly observed a .22 caliber Iver Johnson Arma revolver in plain view on a bed with Pollard. Pollard stated that the firearm was his, and that he was a convicted felon. He had been convicted of possession of meth on March 3, 2019, in White County.
The following day, 37-year-old Jonathan Dewayne Barnes of Talley Road, Smithville, was charged with driving on a revoked driver’s license seventh offense. He is under an OR bond and he is due in court on January 13.
A deputy was at a residence attempting to serve a warrant on Barnes, and while there the deputy noticed Barnes drive past the home. The deputy had prior knowledge that Barnes’ license had been revoked.
On December 21, 30-year-old John Edward Strayn of Walker Creek Road, Alexandria, was arrested for violation of bond conditions. He is under a $1,000 bond and he is due in court on January 6.
Strayn was being incarcerated at the DeKalb County Jail, and during the booking process, Strayn called his mother. A correctional officer overheard his conversation and realized that he was actually talking to his wife. Knowing there was an active bond condition with Strayn and his wife, the officer asked him who he was speaking with and Strayn reportedly replied, “With my wife.” Strayn was then asked who his bond conditions were against, and Strayn admitted it was with his wife. He was then charged with the offense.
