The sheriff’s department arrested three people, including a mother and son, last week in connection with the manufacture of meth.
According to Sheriff Patrick Ray, Brandon Keith Thomas, 29, his mother 54-year-old Sharon Thomas, and 40-year-old Shawn Rene Gibson of McMinnville were all taken into custody on Sept. 20 after a deputy received a tip of a possible meth lab at a home on Sparta Highway. Upon arrival, the deputy saw that the back door was open and allegedly observed Brandon Thomas shaking a bottle in the doorway. The officer reportedly watched for several minutes until the door was closed.
He then knocked on the door and heard a male subject say “It's the cops.” The door was opened in time for the deputy to see Brandon run out the front door. The sheriff said the lawman ordered Thomas to stop, but he reportedly had to be chased down and apprehended on the front lawn of the home.
Thomas allegedly then admitted that everything in the house was his, and belonged to no one else. Consent to search was reportedly given by Thomas to search his room, where the deputy reportedly found Drano, cold packs, Coleman fuel, muriatic acid, tubing, coffee filters, an electric grinder, empty Claritin D blister packs, a plastic bottle containing muriatic acid, pliers, wire cutters, and digital scales.
He allegedly told the deputy all the items belonged to him, and that he was manufacturing methamphetamine. He reportedly showed the officer a one-pot cook bottle, and explained where he was in the process. Thomas was charged with initiation of a process to manufacture methamphetamine.
Gibson was taken to the jail and questioned, and she reportedly told authorities that she knew that meth was being cooked, and said that she did participate by shaking the bottle. She was also written citations for simple possession and drug paraphernalia. Ray said the deputy found two Valium tablets, hypodermic needles and a half ounce of marijuana in her possession.
Sharon Thomas was charged with promotion of methamphetamine after being questioned at the sheriff’s department and allegedly admitting to buying pseudoephedrine on three different occasions for her son to manufacture methamphetamine. Brandon Thomas bond was set at $50,000, Gibson’s at $25,000, and Sharon Thomas’ at $20,000. All three are scheduled to appear in court on Oct. 16.
Calvin Lynn Murphy, Jr., 23, of Indianapolis, Indiana was arrested on Sept. 18 and charged with criminal impersonation, initiation of a process to manufacture meth and simple possession of a Schedule II controlled substance (meth oil.)
Ray said a deputy patrolling on New Bildad Road noticed a vehicle parked under a bridge. He investigated and made contact with Murphy, who allegedly first told him that his name was Cody Murphy. His wallet was reportedly found, and his true identity was verified by his photo ID.
The deputy said he heard someone running through the woods, and when he got to the vehicle he found Murphy sitting in the passenger seat of the vehicle with the door open, The driver’s door was also open the deputy noticed two small bags lying on the toolbox in the back of the truck as well as a bottle of lighter fluid. One baggie allegedly contained a white powdery substance, and the other looked like fertilizer.
Behind the driver’s seat the officer reportedly found a clear glass 13.7-ounce Starbucks bottle, and another was found outside the truck with a clear liquid believed to be meth oil. He also noticed lithium Energizer batteries inside the truck, and a search of the surrounding allegedly revealed 13 coffee filters with a powdery residue.
His bond’s total $15,000, and he will appear in court on October 16. The sheriff said other arrests are pending in the case.
Tamer Jason Jones, 31, of Baxter was arrested on Sept. 17 and charged with four counts of theft of property under $500 and one count of theft property is a total of five theft of property charges 8500 Bond Court date October 16 charge of theft over $500.
Ray said that on June 19 Jones took a gas-powered pressure washer from Walmart in Smithville without paying for it. The washer was valued at $297. On July 8 he allegedly took an air conditioner from the same store without paying. It was valued at $309. On July 22 he allegedly took a 48-inch television and two Bosch drills, again from the same store. Those items were valued at $926.
On July 24 Jones allegedly returned to Walmart and took another $297 gas pressure washer, and then returned once more on Aug. 13 Jones, taking another $297 pressure washer.
Jerry Edward Perdue, 35, was arrested on Sept. 15 for aggravated burglary. Ray said a deputy dispatched to Backbone Road for a break-in report upon spoke to a woman who told him that she saw a man trying to break into her house. The man was reportedly wearing all black with a black hat, had a slim body and a beard, and was carrying two black bags.
Ray said the victim asked the man what he was doing, and he said “I'm kicking your door in.” Then fled into the woods in front of the home. The deputy later found Purdue on Backbone Road and determined that he was the burglar, and victim also identified him as such.
His bond was set at $10,000, and he will appear in court on Oct. 2.
Ryan Lee Walden, 30, and 36-year-old Joel Thomas Hayes were both arrested on Sept. 16 and charged with two counts of theft of property under $500.
The sheriff said the two men took a camper top and a bathtub from a King Ridge Road residence on Sept. 15, and then returned on Sept. 16 and took two 55-gallon barrels, a swing frame, a child's play wagon and a car hood from a residence on King Ridge Rd.
A Deputy dispatched to King Ridge Road in reference to a theft in progress allegedly made contact with the vehicle that matched the description of the thieves. Upon initiating a traffic stop, he reportedly came in contact with the driver, who was found to be Hayes, and a passenger who was found to be Walden. The two men allegedly admitted to being at the residence and taking the Items. Both were placed under a $3000 bond, and they will both appear in court on Oct. 16.
45 James Lee Adcock was arrested on Sept. 19 for aggravated burglary and theft over $500. Adcock allegedly entered a residence on Jefferson Road on Sept. 18 and allegedly stole a gas wall heater from the property. He reportedly admitted to entering the home and taking the heater.
His bond was set at $12500 and he will appear in court on Oct 9.
Tracy Michelle Vincent of was arrested on Sept. 16 and charged with being a fugitive from justice.
A deputy found that Vincent had active warrants from Warren County Kentucky, and that she had left the state and fled to Tennessee. She was found on Cedar Street in Liberty, and will be extradited to Kentucky.
Her bond was set at $2500, and she will appear in court on Sept. 25.
Gregory Mark Guidry, 30 arrested on Sept. 21 for domestic assault. His bond was set at $5000, and he will appear in court on Oct. 16. A deputy dispatched to Puckett’s Point Road for a physical domestic spoke to a woman at the residence who reportedly told the officer that her son, Guidry, came to her bedroom door asking for her medication.
When she refused he allegedly kicked the door in and came into her room. Once inside he reportedly jumped on top of her and began punching her in the face and head. Ray said she called 911 and Guidry grabbed her phone and broke it, then went through the house and broke out all the windows and the glass in the back door.
The woman allegedly suffered a black eye, a knot on her head and marks on her face. According to the sheriff, Guidry left prior to the deputy’s arrival, but he was soon dispatched back to the home because Guidry had come back demanding medication again. This time he reportedly took a hammer and broke both televisions.
His bond was set at $5000, and he will appear in court on Oct. 16
Billy Calvin Shaw, Jr., 49, of Murfreesboro was charged on Sept. 17 for driving under the influence (first offense.) Ray said a deputy observed a black Nissan failing to maintain its lane of travel and conducted a traffic stop. He reportedly found Shaw to be the driver. Upon speaking with Shaw the officer allegedly noticed a smell of alcohol and had him perform field Sobriety tasks. He began to do the tasks but stopped in the middle and said he could not do it. When the deputy asked him why he allegedly replied it was because he had something to drink. He was also written a citation for implied consent and leaving his lane of travel. He reportedly refused to give blood.
His court date is set for Oct. 9.
Gregory Scott Redmon, 56, was arrested on Sept. 17 four DUI (second offense.) His bond was set at $3000 and he will appear in court on Oct. 9.
The sheriff said a deputy observed a gray car leave it's lane of travel and go into the grass. He stopped the vehicle found the driver to be Redmon, who had an odor of alcohol and slurred speech. Redmon allegedly admitted to drinking and submitted to, but performed poorly on, field sobriety tests. He reportedly submitted to a blood test.
He was also cited for failure to maintain his lane of travel, and his 1986 Chevy Celebrity was seized.
Donald Gene Rigsby, 53, was arrested on Sept. 19 for public intoxication. Ray said a deputy dispatched to investigate reports of a man on a bicycle weaving in and out of lanes of traffic on highway 56 South made contact with Rigsby, who approached the deputy’s vehicle and asked if he could give him a ride.
His speech was reportedly slurred, he was unsteady on his feet and had a strong odor of alcohol. His bond was set at $1500, and he will appear in court on Oct. 9.
William Albert Warren, 79, was arrested on Sept. 20 for DUI (second offense.) His bond was set at $3000 and he will appear in court on Oct. 2.
Ray said the deputy responded to a vehicle accident on Banks Pisgah Road and found several damaged fence posts and a damaged barbed wire fence and utility pole guide wire. The vehicle was not found on the scene.
The complainant reportedly advised the officer that she saw a black truck leave the scene and drive through a nursery. The deputy soon found a black Ford F1 50 inside the nursery with damage to the front and barbed wire hanging from the vehicle.
Warren was allegedly found in the driver’s seat with a strong odor of alcohol on his person and an open 12-ounce can of Bud Light beer was in the center console. He was reportedly unable to perform field sobriety tasks, but did consent to a blood test.
A computer check revealed that Warren had a DUI conviction in 2012. He was also written citations for the open container, leaving the scene of an accident and failure to maintain his lane of travel.
