Smithville Police made an arrest last week after a man called reporting that he had been kidnapped by an acquaintance. After a traffic stop of the suspect vehicle, the bomb squad had to be called to the scene.
On February 26, at approximately 11:56 am, Officer Lane Ball received a report of a possible kidnapping taking place on DeKalb County roads. The victim in the case had allegedly texted his niece, reporting that a man, 20-year-old Kobe Keelan Ray Cantrell, had taken him hostage and was holding him at gunpoint as they traveled in the victim’s gold 2000 Chevy Blazer.
Officer Ball contacted the man’s niece who reported that her uncle wanted her to contact Smithville Police because he knew they were in the city, but was unable to place a phone call.
Later, Officer Ball made contact with a vehicle matching the description given by the caller, at South Congress Boulevard and Jennings Lane, heading south out of town. Ball read the temporary tag on the vehicle to dispatch and followed until the tag number verified it was the Blazer they were looking for. Officer Ball then attempted to pull the vehicle over at Shiny Rock Market on Old Highway 56.
According to the arrest warrant, the Blazer pulled up to a gas pump at the market, where the driver opened the door and stepped out. Officer Ball, gun drawn, ordered the driver to sit back down in the vehicle, but the driver did not comply. Officer then ordered the driver to turn around and walk backwards toward the squad car, but the man began to reach around in the vehicle and in his pants.
As other officers and detectives arrived at the scene, authorities yelled for the mam to keep his hands where they could see them, and to place them on the vehicle. Again, the driver did not comply, and appeared as if he was about to enter the vehicle. It was then that Officer Ball and an off-duty DeKalb County Detective, Mason Merriman, who happened to be at the market, approached the man, taking him to the ground and placing him in handcuffs.
Other officers, along with Smithville Detective James Cornelius and Chief Mark Collins. As officers were taking the driver, Cantrell, into custody, a .38 caliber handgun was recovered from the man’s waistband.
The victim in the case was recovered in the backseat of the vehicle and confirmed that he had been held against his will. The victim reported that he had allowed Cantrell to drive his vehicle, but then he refused to give the keys back and that he would be driving from then on. The victim stated that he believed that Cantrell might harm him if he attempted to flee of call for help.
As police began to search the vehicle, they came across a red bag that appeared to belong to Cantrell. Inside, Cantrell’s IDs and bank cards were found, along with a device that looked like a bomb. The device contained two red cylinders resembling dynamite, with a cordless drill battery and wires attached.
Taking no chances, the Tennessee Highway Patrol’s Bomb and Arson Unit was dispatched to the scene to examine the device. After an x-ray of the device, it was determined that it had been assembled using road flares rather than dynamite. Cantrell reportedly told THP officials that it was just a project he had been working on to show people.
Cantrell is charged with prohibited weapons, aggravated kidnapping, resisting stop, frisk, halt, or arrest, two counts carrying or possession of a weapon, and driving on suspended. He is under a $76,500 bond and will be in court on March 9.