A joint investigation by the Smithville Police Department and the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Department has resulted in 24 charges including vandalism, disorderly conduct, harassment, and desecration of honored places for a local man.
Authorities said 57-year-old Laddie Bill Jerrells of Smithville was arrested on July 5 after he allegedly posted offensive and blasphemous messages on the property of several area churches. Sheriff Patrick Ray and Smithville Police Chief Mark Collins, in a joint statement Monday, said Jerrells went to two churches in the City of Smithville on June 22 and July 4 and three churches in the county on May 13, June 25, and June 29, posting offensive notes on the front doors, buildings, or signs of the churches. Jerrels reportedly posted notes at one church on two separate occasions.
Officials said that no services were being held when the notes were posted, and that no particular denomination was targeted. Jerrells was charged by Smithville police for the two cases in the city limits, and the sheriff’s department brought the remaining charges.
The harassment warrants allege that Jerrells intended to communicate with the churches in a way that annoyed, offended, alarmed, or frightened the recipients.
The disorderly conduct warrants charge that Jerrells intended to cause public annoyance or alarm and created a physically abusive of offenive condition by an act that served no legitimate purpose.
The vandalism warrants charge that Jerrells tampered with church property, causing substantial inconvenience to the members.
The desecration charges allege that Jerrells desecrated places of worship and treated a sacred place with great disrespect.
Ray and Collins said both their departments strive to make everyone feel safe at places of worship, so that all congregations can worship in peace.
The content of the notes was not revealed. Jerrells’ total bond is $36,000, and his court date is July 20.