The Smithville City Police Department had a busy week with some bad drivers and some burglary suspects taken into custody.

On March 1, 26-year-old Kenneth Randolph Stokes III of Texas was arrested for evading arrest and cited for reckless driving.

Police observed a gold Toyota Camry traveling at a high speed through the parking lot of Village Market Gas Station with no regard for public safety. The officer initiated his blue lights on North Congress Boulevard in an attempt to get the driver to stop.

The driver continued driving and turned east onto Smith Road and continued traveling at approximately 50 miles per hour, then turned west onto East Broad Street before coming to a stop in the parking lot of Gill’s Automotive.

The driver was identified as Stokes and was taken into custody without incident. The officer was informed that Stokes was having a bad day and a Glock 9mm handgun was recovered from his vehicle and taken into evidence. He is under a $10,000 bond and is due in court on March 31.

The following day, Paul Allen Willingham of 107 East Webb Street was cited for simple possession of schedule II and IV drug. Willingham was stopped for failure to use a turn signal at East Bryant Street onto South College, and for no tag lights.

Upon speaking with Willingham, it was discovered that he had in his possession, one Oxycodone and four Alprazolam that he did not have a prescription for. He is due in court on April 22.

That same day, 38-year-old Daniel Ray Wilson of 1100 West Broad Street was arrested for four counts of burglary, theft of property, and two counts of joy riding.

On February 23, 2022, police were dispatched to Outreach Baptist Church on South Congress Boulevard in reference to a burglary that had occurred. The officer met with the Pastor and was advised that an unknown white male had entered the building, on Monday, February 21, and Tuesday, February 22, through the Vaughn Lane classroom door. The suspect then went throughout the building taking several items totaling approximately $2370.00.

The suspect could be seen leaving the building on both days and enter a white van belonging to the church and leave with the items. A short time later, the suspect would bring the van back, but he would not have the items he had taken. One of the days he could be seen entering another van where it appeared he had been sleeping. Another day he left the property on foot.

Upon investigation, the subject was identified as Wilson and later taken into custody for active warrants in the case. He is under a $52,500 bond and is due in court on March 17.

On March 9, Sheri Leeann Murphy, 38, of 150 New Bildad Road was cited for theft of property. Murphy allegedly entered Center Hill Wine & Spirits and attempted to take a bottle of vodka. The clerk confronted her and she removed the bottle from her purse and left the store. She is due in court on March 24.

That same day, 41-year-old Brandon Ryan Haggard, of 104 West Woodlawn Street, was arrested on for aggravated assault. Officers received a call about a physical domestic in progress. Once officers arrived on scene, they made contact with the victim who had marks around her neck, up and down her arms, and a knot on her head.

The officers discovered that Haggard had allegedly hit and grabbed the victim by the hair and threw her to the ground causing her injury. He is under a $15,000 and will appear in court on April 7.

On March 10, 55-year-old Marty Brent Tallent of 465 West Broad Street was arrested for assault. Tallent allegedly entered Galaxy Ford on West Broad Street and threatened to shoot employees. He then left the dealership and went to Pokey’s Tire and attempted to make entry into a vehicle that didn’t belong to him. He was then stopped by officers at A Plus Heating and Cooling, where he began threatening physical harm to officers and became belligerent.

Tallent was arrested for his and the public’s safety. No weapon was found on his person incident to arrest. He is under a $3,500 bond and is due in court on March 24.

That same day, 36-year-old Michael Andrew Snyders Jr. of 739 West Main Street, was cited for theft of property. Loss Prevention at Wal-Mart allegedly observed Snyders put a padlock in his jacket pocket. Snyders informed the officer that he did put it in his pocket, but felt bad and put it back on the shelf. He is due in court on April 8.