Two DeKalb County Jail inmates have been charged for a brutal assault inside the jail earlier in the month. The attack occurred on March 4, 2022, and resulted in the victim having to have surgery for his injuries.
According to Sheriff Patrick Ray, 40-year-old Garth Layne Cantrell of Young Ridge Road, Sparta, and 44-year-old Jermaine Derperise McCoy of Smith Road, Smithville, are each charged for the attack. Cantrell is charged with for assault, and is under a $5,000 bond, while McCoy is charged with aggravated assault and is under a $15,000 bond. Both men are due to appear in court on April 14 for the charges.
Sheriff Ray said that on March 4, 2022, Cantrell assaulted another inmate at the DeKalb County Jail by kicking him repeatedly, while McCoy kicked him repeatedly in the head resulting in serious bodily injury. The victim was transported to Vanderbilt Medical Center in Nashville where he had to undergo surgery for his injuries.
In other sheriff’s news, on March 23, 33-year-old Michael Darrin Caldwell Jr. of Frazier Street, Smithville, was charged with methamphetamine manufacture deliver sell or possess. He is under a $50,000 bond and is due to appear in court on April 7.
Sheriff Ray reported that a deputy conducted a traffic stop on a blue Nissan Frontier on Big Rock Road for a registration violation. After making contact with the driver, Caldwell, he was asked to step out of the vehicle, which he did. The deputy then asked if there was anything in the vehicle that he needed to know about, and Caldwell then allegedly told the deputy about meth under the driver’s seat in a container.
After getting permission to search the vehicle, the container was located which authorities say contained 16 grams of a clear crystal-like substance believed to be meth. Caldwell also allegedly admitted to selling the meth.
On March 25, 31-year-old Joshua Dale Tidwell of Alligood Way, Lebanon, was arrested for public intoxication. He is under a $1,500 bond and he is due in court on April 14.
Authorities say that a deputy was patrolling Nashville Highway when he made contact with a male subject standing on the white line of the roadway. Tidwell allegedly told the deputy that he was under the influence of meth, and told the deputy that he was seeing things that were not there. For the safety of the man and the public, he was placed in custody.
On March 26, 41-year-old Mark Denver Young of Barnes Mill Road, Smithville, was arrested for violation of an order of protection. He is under a $3,500 bond and will appear in court on April 7.
Sheriff Ray said that Young was found in possession of a Phoenix Arms .22 caliber pistol, located in the passenger seat of his vehicle in plain view and within arm’s reach. Young is the respondent of an active order of protection out of DeKalb County and is prohibited from having a firearm in his possession.
The next day, 36-year-old Amy Lynette Knowles of Cedar Street, Liberty, was charged with public intoxication. She is under a $1,500 bond and is due in court on April 14.
According to Ray, a deputy responded to McMinnville Highway on multiple reports of a female walking in the roadway. The deputy made contact with Knowles near Webb Lane, walking on the edge of the road. Authorities say there was a strong odor of alcohol coming from Knowles and she was unsteady on her feet. For her safety and that of drivers on the roadway, she was placed
