A father and son were charged with assaulting the son's wife on May 22.
James Michael Carpenter, 59, of Liberty was charged with domestic assault, and 30-year-old Michael Christian Carpenter, also of Liberty, was charged with aggravated assault.
According to Sheriff Patrick Ray, a deputy was called to a residence on East Main Street in Liberty to investigate reports of a physical domestic and spoke with the victim, who said that her father-in-law had smacked her hand to knock away a phone, and that her husband then grabbed her about the shoulders and tried to pull her from a vehicle.
The woman reportedly said that her husband struck her about the head and shoulders, knocked her to the ground, and threw a large rock at her while she was sitting in a car. The rock allegedly hit the driver’s side windshield, breaking the glass.
Ray said the woman recorded the incident on a cell phone and showed the video to the deputy. The sheriff said the video corroborated the woman's statements, and a copy of the recording was kept as evidence.
James Michael Carpenter’s bond was set at $2,500 bond, and he will be in court June 4. Michael Christian’s bond was set at $5,000, and he will appear on June 11.
Meanwhile, two people were arrested on May 17 after a deputy who pulled their Chevy Blazer over on Highway 56 for suspicion of DUI found them to have a three-year-old passenger in the SUV.
The sheriff said that Robert James Clay was charged with DUI and reckless endangerment for transporting the boy, his son, in the vehicle with him while intoxicated. He was also cited for driving on a suspended license and violation of the open container law.
Two deputies dispatched to check out a report of a possible drunk driver on Cookeville Highway stopped the suspected vehicle and spoke with the driver, Clay, who was found to have a strong odor of alcohol on his person and slurred speech. An open container of whiskey was allegedly found on the floorboard of the Blazer. Clay performed poorly on field sobriety tasks. He also submitted to a blood test. Clay was then placed under arrest and booked at the sheriff's department.
His passenger, Sheena Arlene George, the owner of the Blazer, was charged with a second offense of driving under the influence by allowance for allowing an intoxicated person to drive her vehicle. A computer check reportedly revealed that she had a previous offense in September 2014. She was charged with reckless endangerment as well because the child was in the vehicle.
Bond for Clay was set at $3,000, and George's bond is $4,500. They will both appear in court on June 11.
Jimmy Chris Haggard of Baxter was charged with driving under the influence and reckless endangerment, as well as being cited for violation of the light law on May 25.
Ray said a deputy stopped an SUV because it had a headlight out, and upon speaking to the driver, Haggard, the lawman noticed a strong odor of alcohol on Haggard's person, and that his eyes were bloodshot. Haggard allegedly admitted to having consumed seven beers. A friend's 11-year-old child was found in the vehicle with Haggard.
He performed poorly on field sobriety tasks and was arrested. He was charged with reckless endangerment for putting the child's life in danger by driving under the influence with the pre-teen in the vehicle.
His bonds total $3,000, and he will appear in court on July 16.
Tisha Elaine Burns, 44, was arrested on May 26 for evading arrest.
The sheriff said that while a deputy was conducting a traffic stop on Jay Hutchins road Burns attempted to flee the scene on foot. She was caught and arrested for evading as well as another active warrant.
She was cited for simple possession of a Schedule II drug when a search of her purse allegedly revealed a small amount of a powdery substance that reportedly field tested positive as meth.
Her bond was set at $1,500, and she will appear in court on June 11.
Laura Ann Smith-Gaskins, 46, was arrested for domestic assault May 27 after a deputy dispatched to Floyd Drive on a report of a verbal domestic situation made contact with Gaskins (who had called the incident in), and her mother. Ray said that while explaining Gaskins rights, she made statements to the deputy about wanting to kill children who were present.
Her bond was set at $2,500, and she will appear in court on June 4.
Billy Dale Dobbs, 44, of Baxter was arrested on May 24, for charges of manufacture of marijuana under a grand jury sealed indictment.
His bond was set at $20,000, and he will be arraigned in criminal court on June 23.
A Murfreesboro woman faces charges of DUI and drug possession after a traffic stop by a sheriff’s deputy.
Michelle Renee Yarbro, 37, was charged with driving under the influence, possession of a Schedule III drug for resale (Hydrocodone), and possession of a schedule IV drug for resale (Alprazolam). She was also cited for simple possession of a Schedule II drug (Opana) and possession of drug paraphernalia.
Ray said a deputy dispatched to the intersection of Highway 96 and Highway 70 in Liberty on May 11 to check out reports of a female slumped over the steering wheel of a blue car sitting on the edge of the highway spoke with the driver, Yarbro, who appeared to be under the influence of an intoxicating substance. Her speech was allegedly slurred and she was reportedly unable to stand or keep her eyes open.
Ray said the deputy found a baggie containing 19 hydrocodone pills and a baggie with 19 and a half Alprazolam pills, all believed to be for resale, in her vehicle, and a cut-off straw, and a 10-milligram Opana pill on her person during the stop.
Her bond totals $11,500, and she will appear in court on June 4.
Tolesha Alberta Suggs, 32, was charged with simple possession of a Schedule VI drug (marijuana) and cited for possession of drug paraphernalia and driving on a suspended license on May 14.
The sheriff said a deputy stopped to conduct a welfare check on a gold Nissan Altima and spoke with Suggs, who was sitting in the driver seat. After obtaining consent to search the vehicle, the officer allegedly found a small bag containing a sandwich baggie with .18 ounces of a green leafy substance believed to be marijuana inside, and a pipe containing residue underneath and under the driver's seat.
He also discovered a half-empty container of Bud Lite beer in the car. A check revealed that Suggs' license was suspended for medical reasons in November 2013.
Her bond was set at $1,500, and she will appear in court on June 11.
Tyrone Dewayne Owens, 39, was cited for simple possession of Schedule II and IV drugs on May 22. Sheriff Ray said that on Friday, May 22 a deputy found Owens with three pill bottles in his front pocket containing two Oxycontin (20 milligram) pills, three Oxycodone (30 milligram) pills, and twenty six alprazolam (one milligram) pills. Owens had no prescription for any of the pills.
He will appear in court on July 16.
Jonathan Kyle McCormick, 32, was cited for simple possession and possession of drug paraphernalia on May 20. Sheriff Ray said that on Wednesday, May 20 a deputy found in McCormick's possession three hypodermic needles and two one-milligram alprazolam pills.
He will appear in court on June 16.
Henry Burt Turner, Jr., 31, of Liberty was cited for simple possession on May 21. According to Sheriff Ray, a deputy found an alprazolam pill and a small vial containing five diazepam pills on his person during a search.
He will appear in court on June 11.
Kathyerine Michelle Carr, 41, of Sparta has been cited for simple possession of Schedule II drugs.
Ray said a detective stopped at a residence on Jacobs Pillar Road to speak with Carr. As she exited her vehicle, Carr dropped a syringe containing a yellow substance believed to be Dilaudid, along with three morphine pills. She reportedly had no prescription for the drugs.
She will appear in court on June 25.
Steven Lee Gebhardt, 41, was charged with assault on May 17.
Ray said deputies responding to a disturbance call at the Lake Motel knocked on the door of a room and identified himself, but the man inside, Gebhardt, refused to come out, and warned the deputy that he was armed, and would shoot the officer if he did not leave. The deputies then forced their way into the room and took Gebhardt into custody.
His bond was set at $3,000, and he will appear in court on June 4.
Marco Mendez, 22, was charged with domestic assault on May 23.
Mendez allegedly assaulted his girlfriend by hitting her in the face with his hand, pulling her hair, and pushing her down on the ground.
His bond was set at $2,500, and he will appear in court on June 4.
Mitchelle Lee Corso, 49, of Liberty was charged with domestic assault on May 19.
The sheriff said Corso assaulted his wife at their home by throwing a glass steak sauce bottle, hitting her on the left forearm area, and leaving physical marks.
His bond was set at $2,500, and he will appear in court on June 11.
Ashley Leann Frazier, 26, was charged with public intoxication on May 19.
The sheriff said a deputy was dispatched to the intersection of Short Mountain Highway and Whorton Springs Road in reference to reports of a woman asleep in a ditch. The officer found and awoke Frazier, who was reportedly asleep in a field beside the road on Short Mountain Highway.
Frazier was allegedly unsteady on her feet and had slurred speech. She reportedly admitted to having taken medication and drinking about eight ounces of liquor. She was placed under arrest for her safety and that of the public.
Her bond was set at $1,500, and she will appear in court on July 16.
Jeff David Weedman, 51, of Sparta was charged with driving under the influence and issued a citation for failure to maintain his lane of travel on May 23.
A deputy reportedly saw a white Honda Accord leave its lane of travel on Allen Ferry Road and stopped the car. He spoke to the driver, Weedman, whose speech was allegedly slurred. Ray said Weedman also had an odor of alcohol on him.
The sheriff said Weedman admitted to having consumed three beers. After performing poorly on field sobriety tasks, he was placed under arrest.
His bond was set at $1,500 and he will appear in court on June 25.
Charles Ryan Riedley, 27, was charged with a second offense of driving under the influence and issued citations for violation of the open container law, driving on roadways laned for traffic, a violation of the financial responsibility law, simple possession of a Schedule VI drug (marijuana), and violation of the implied consent law on May 24.
A deputy reportedly observed a black truck leave its lane of travel multiple times, and when he stopped the vehicle and spoke with the driver, Riedley, he found that he had a strong odor of alcohol on him. Riedley's speech was allegedly slurred, and he had bloodshot eyes.
Riedley apparently admitted to drinking and smoking marijuana, and after performing poorly on field sobriety tasks, he was placed under arrest. Riedley refused to submit to a blood test and he could not provide proof of insurance. During a search of Riedley's vehicle the officer reportedly found an open Bud Lite beer bottle and .1 grams of marijuana.
His bond was set at $3,000, and he will appear in court on July 16. His first DUI conviction was in November 2007 in Rutherford County.
