The DeKalb County Sheriff’s Department made some big arrests over the past couple of weeks, including drug, gun, assault, and even fugitive charges.
Sheriff Patrick Ray told the Smithville Review that on October 2, 30-year-old Amber Leigh Merlo of Mount Lebanon Church Road, Shelbyville, TN, was arrested for methamphetamine manufacture deliver sell or possess, and for being a fugitive from justice.
A DeKalb Sheriff’s Department Drug Detective, along with other members of the department and the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, conducted a search warrant at 145 Cleveland Way in Smithville. There, Merlo was found to be in possession of 7.52 grams of a crystal-like substance believed to be meth, along with various items of drug paraphernalia, including digital scales.
Merlo was also allegedly in possession of 2011 Hyundai Sonata that had been reported stolen out of Davidson County, TN.
On October 4, it was learned that Merlo is wanted for charges out of Huntsville, Al. Huntsville City Police confirmed that they will extradite Merlo on the charges.
She is under a $82,500 total bond and is set to be in court on October 19.
A coconspirator in the Merlo case, 31-year-old Lisa Michelle Huard of Cleveland Way, Smithville, was charged with possession of drug paraphernalia and methamphetamine manufacture deliver sell or possess. She is under an OR bond and she is due in court on October 19.
During the raid, Huard was allegedly found with .68 grams of a crystal-like substance believed to be meth, and various items of drug paraphernalia, including digital scales.
That same day, 22-year-old Christopher Edward Spoon Jr. of Sparta Highway, Smithville, was arrested for simple possession of a schedule VI drug, possession of drug paraphernalia, driving on a suspended license, unlawful possession of a weapon, possession of a firearm during a felony, and methamphetamine manufacture deliver sell or possess.
Sheriff Ray said that a deputy conducted a traffic stop on a red Nissan Altima for failure to maintain its lane of travel. After a search of the vehicle, Spoon was found to be in possession of 1.5 grams of a green, leafy substance believed to be marijuana. He was also found with 19 clear baggies and a scale with weights, and his license came back as suspended.
He was also allegedly found to be in possession of a .25 caliber handgun with three bullets the magazine, and possession of 3.7 grams of a white powdery substance believed to be meth.
He is under a total bond of $27,000 and is due in court on October 26
On October 5, 29-year-old Robert Wayne Davidson JR. of Smith Road, Smithville, was arrested for driving on a revoked or suspended license. He is under a $2,500 bond and he is set to appear in court on October 26.
A deputy was patrolling Dry Creek Road, when he witnessed Davidson operating a white 1995 Chevy Caprice. The deputy had prior knowledge that the man’s license had been suspended, and conducted a traffic stop on the vehicle. Central Dispatch confirmed the suspension, with two prior convictions in 2016 and 2018.
Detectives arrested Guadalupe Franz Aguilar, 23, of Kendra Drive, Smithville, on statutory rape charges. Authorities allege that on August 5, 2023, Aguilar sexually penetrated a 16-year-old female.
Melinda Beth Murphy, 38, of Wade Street, Smithville, was arrested after an investigation into a theft. Detectives charged Murphy with theft of property. She is held under an OR bond and is due in court on October 19.
Between September 3rd and September 7th, officials say that Murphy took a Samsung 65-inch TV, a Phillips 32-inch TV, an Amazon Echo Dot, a Straight-Ahead hair straightener, an ONN soundbar, a TV mount, baby items, and other miscellaneous property from a residence on Page Drive without the owner’s consent. The items were valued at over $1,000.
On October 6, 50-year-old Freddy Sylvester Stringer Jr. of Church Street, Liberty, was charged with driving on a revoked driver’s license. He is under a $3,000 bond and he is due in court on October 26.
According to Sheriff Ray, a deputy conducted a traffic stop on a blue Ford F-150 for failing to maintain its lane of travel. Upon making contact with the driver, Stringer, and running his information through Central Dispatch, it was found that the man’s license had been revoked.
On October 7, 58-year-old Randal Kieth Mullins of Four-Star Point Road, Smithville, was arrested for three counts of aggravated assault, possession of a handgun under the influence, and possession of a firearm during a felony. He is under a $77,500 bond and is set to appear in court on October 26.
Sheriff Ray said that a deputy responded to Poss Road on a report of a male subject, pointing a gun at three victims. Mullins was located at the scene and multiple firearms were located, including the gun described by the victims.
Authorities say that Mullins placed the victims in the case in fear of imminent bodily harm by displaying a weapon. Mullins was found to be in possession of a Taurus 357 revolver in his back pocket. The man had a strong odor of alcohol on his person, slurred speech, and was unsteady on his feet.
On October 8, 36-year-old Selvin Alexander Orellana of High Street, Murfreesboro, TN, was arrested for reckless endangerment, driving on a revoked license, and DUI. He is under a $27,000 total bond and will be in court on October 26,
A deputy was patrolling McMinnville Highway when he observed a maroon Honda Civic pass another vehicle on a double-yellow line, crossing into the deputy’s lane of travel and almost striking the deputy head-on.
A traffic stop was initiated at Turner Road, and law enforcement allege that a strong odor of alcohol was emanating from the vehicle. Orellana was also reportedly unsteady on his feet and had slurred speech. Multiple opened and unopened alcoholic beverages were found inside the vehicle.
He had a previous conviction for DUI in Rutherford County in 2015.
That same day, 21-year-old Johnathon Ray Brock of Webb Lane, Smithville, was charged with theft of property, and aggravated burglary. He is under an $11,000 bond and is set to be in court on October 26.
Officials allege that Brock entered a residence on Dale Ridge Road where he took a Remmington Model 597 .22 caliber rifle.
Bobby Jewel Wilson, 33, of Evins Mill Road, Smithville, was arrested last week for an incident that occurred earlier in the year.
On April 6, 2023, a deputy was in pursuit of a black Mercedes on Summers Lane in Smithville. The deputy had prior knowledge that the driver, Wilson, had an active warrant out of Rutherford County. The Mercedes fled at a high rate of speed to evade arrest, and began passing multiple vehicles in oncoming traffic, endangering the public.
Wilson is charged with Reckless endangerment and evading arrest. He is under a $17,500 bond and will be in court on October 26.
On October 14, 43-year-old Joshua McDaniel Scarlett of Cobb Lane, Woodbury, was charged with DUI. He is under a $3,500 bond and his court date is set for November 9.
A deputy was patrolling Sparta Highway, when he witnessed a Toyota Tundra traveling at a high rate of speed and leaving its lane of travel multiple times.
After a traffic stop, deputies claim Scarlett had an odor of alcohol coming from his person, his eyes were glossy, and he was unsteady on his feet. Scarlett reportedly admitted to consuming two beers and a mixed drink earlier in the night. He consented to field sobriety tasks, but performed poorly.
