The sheriff’s department has charged a Cookeville man with possession of methamphetamine after a routine traffic stop last week allegedly turned up illegal drugs.
According to Sheriff Patrick Ray, Anthony Leon Tindle, 44, was charged with possession of a Schedule II drug (methamphetamine) on Feb. 13. Ray said a sheriff's department detective spotted an older model Cadillac parked near a convenience store at the intersection of Highway 56 and 70 with the driver slumped over the wheel. The detective pulled in and spoke with the driver, who proved to be Tindle.
Tindle reportedly told the officer that he had a pipe in his pocket, and then produced a plastic container containing a wet rock-like substance, which field tested to be 4.8 grams of methamphetamine. Tindle was placed under arrest.
His bond was set at $25,000, and he will appear in court on March 12.
Teesha Nicole Reynolds, 32, of Liberty was arrested on Feb. 9 and charged with two counts of fraudulent use of a debit card and theft of property under $500 after a joint investigation by detectives of the DeKalb County Sheriff's Department and Smithville Police Department.
Reynolds allegedly took a debit card belonging to another party without the owner's consent, and used it to purchase merchandise totaling $45.52 at the Dollar General Store in Dowelltown. City police reportedly lodged the additional charges against Reynolds for another incident.
Her bond totals $6,500, and she will appear in court on Feb. 19.
James Michael Phipps, 48, of Cookeville is charged with possession of a Schedule II drug (Opana) for resale. Ray said a sheriff's department drug detective stopped a vehicle for a traffic violation and found Phipps to be a passenger. Phipps allegedly gave consent to search his person, and the detective discovered six loaded syringes in his coat pocket.
Phipps reportedly admitted that the syringes were loaded with the drug Opana. He was arrested and brought to the sheriff's department for booking.
His bond was set at $10,000, and he will appear in court on March 12.
Billy Douglas Ferrell, 27, of Dowelltown was charged with driving on a suspended license and cited for violation of the financial responsibility law, for no license plates on his vehicle, and for not giving immediate notice of an accident on Feb. 10.
Ray said that a deputy dispatched to New Home Road on Feb. 9 to investigate a report of a driver hitting a mailbox and leaving the scene found a piece of a bumper that had come off the vehicle that struck the box. On Feb. 10, central dispatch informed the officer that someone had witnessed the wreck and had followed the vehicle to Ferrell’s residence.
The deputy went to Ferrell's home, and Ferrell reportedly admitted to hitting the mailbox on the previous day, and also admitted to leaving the scene. A computer check revealed that Ferrell's license was suspended for failure to maintain proof of insurance in 2014.
The same deputy had apparently issued Ferrell a citation in January for a first offense of driving on a suspended license, and advised him not to drive. Ferrell was arrested and brought to the jail for booking.
His bond was set at $1,500, and he will appear in court on March 26.
Justin Ray Lohorn, 29 was cited for simple possession of marijuana, violation of the light law, and failure to maintain his lane of travel on Feb. 12.
Ray said a sheriff's department detective spotted a pickup truck with no tail lights driving erratically on Braswell Lane in Smithville. The detective stopped the truck and found Lohorn behind the wheel. After consent to search was given, a marijuana joint was allegedly found inside the vehicle.
Lohorn will appear in court on March 12.
Neal Bernard Keenan, 58, of Dowelltown was charged with driving on a revoked license and cited for not wearing a seatbelt and violation of the responsibility law (no insurance) on Feb. 9.
The sheriff said that Keenan was stopped for not wearing a seatbelt, and a computer checked revealed that his driver's license was revoked for a 2013 DUI. He was arrested and brought to the sheriff's office for booking.
His bond was set at $1,500, and he will appear in court on March 5.
John Wesley Curtis, 24, was charged with driving under the influence as well as being cited for violation of the implied consent law and for stopping on the highway on Feb. 16.
The sheriff said a deputy dispatched to the intersection of Highway 70 and Dale Ridge Road to check out a call of a car blocking two lanes of travel found Curtis, who had allegedly urinated on himself, behind the wheel. He reportedly had bloodshot eyes, slurred speech, a strong odor of alcohol on his person, and admitted to drinking six 24-ounce beers. He reportedly performed poorly on field sobriety tasks, and refused to submit to a blood test.
His bond was set at $1,500, and he will appear in court on March 26.
David Allen Sloan, 35, of Alexandria was charged with public intoxication on Feb. 14.
According to the sheriff, Sloan was asked to leave the parking lot of Turtle's Bar and Grill on Sparta Highway after he began an argument with employees of the business. He was reportedly highly intoxicated, and was being very belligerent. Ray said the arresting officer asked Sloan several times to calm down, but he refused to comply.
His bond was set at $1,500, and he will appear in court on May 7.
Steven Lee Gebhardt, 41, was charged with public intoxication on Feb. 12.
The sheriff said a deputy was dispatched to Turtle's Bar and Grill to investigate a report of a customer who was trying to start a fight. Upon arrival, the officer spoke with Gebhardt, who was unsteady on his feet and had a strong odor of alcohol on his person. Gebhardt was placed under arrest.
His bond was set at $3,000, and he will appear in court on March 12.
