August 10, 2018
By: Dwayne Page
A Smithville man who tried to outrun the law in a truck and then on foot was taken into custody last Friday.
36 year old Willy Ray Murphy of 201 West Bryant Street is charged with driving while in possession of methamphetamine, resisting arrest, felony evading, and driving on a revoked license.
Smithville Police spotted Murphy driving a black truck on Gentry Avenue. Knowing that Murphy’s drivers license is revoked and that he has active warrants against him, the officer tried to pull Murphy over. He followed Murphy approximately 5 miles and witnessed him run through 4 stop signs while traveling up to speeds in excess of 60 mph. The officer also observed Murphy throw a clear bag out of his passenger side window before getting out of the truck at the intersection of Game Ridge and Dry Creek Road. But he failed to put the truck in gear causing it to roll across the highway and come to a stop in a ditch. Murphy then tried to flee on foot but police caught up with him on the front porch of a residence. Although he continued to resist, Murphy was placed in custody. An inventory of the vehicle revealed 0.6 grams of methamphetamine. Bond for Murphy is $24,500 and his court date is August 16.
25 year old Zachary Lane Bennett of Liberty was arrested on Friday, August 3 for DUI. Police responded to Kwik N Ezy due to a complaint of a man in a red van possibly intoxicated. Upon arrival the officer spoke with the man, Bennett. His speech was slurred and he had a smell of an alcoholic beverage coming from his person. His eyes were glossy and he was unsteady on his feet. Bennett submitted to field sobriety tasks and performed poorly. He was then taken into custody without incident. Bennett’s bond is $1,500 and his court date is August 30.
26 year old Nathaniel Dylan Tippens of 329 Redmon Road was arrested on Sunday, August 5 for unlawful carrying or possession of a firearm. Central Dispatch received a call stating that Tippens was walking down Restview Avenue carrying a rifle. As the officer was enroute, the caller further reported that Tippens had gotten into the passenger side of a gold car. The vehicle then left the area. Police spotted the gold car on Highland Avenue and initiated a traffic stop. The officer ordered Tippens to get out of the car and then removed a black “Buckhunter” rifle from the passenger seat where Tippens had been sitting. Tippens has a 2015 felony conviction against him for burglary and theft. Tippens’ bond is $25,000 and his court date is August 23
19 year old Daniel Neil Ankerso Patterson of 135 Big Hickory Court was cited Sunday, August 5 for cruelty to animals for kicking an armadillo in the middle of the street on the public square. Patterson said he did it because the armadillo was a nuisance to him. His court date is August 30.
33 year old Richard Matthew Turnbow of Union City was arrested on Sunday, August 5 for public intoxication. Police responded to a complaint of a man acting suspiciously in the parking lot of Wal-Mart who was believed to be intoxicated. Police found the man, Turnbow staggering down Anthony Avenue. While speaking with him, the officer noticed that Turnbow seemed very anxious. He could not stop talking or stand still even when ordered to do so. The officer learned that Turnbow was a user of methamphetamine and had recently been discharged from the local halfway house. Due to Turnbow’s actions and condition, the officer determined him to be under the influence of some type of intoxicant. Turnbow was placed in custody. His bond is $1,500 and his court date is August 16.
31 year old Jennifer Leann Coffee of 254 Oak Drive was arrested on Sunday, August 5 for DUI and cited for simple possession. According to police, Coffee was found at the Sonic Drive-In unconscious in the driver’s seat of her vehicle. The investigating officer was informed that Coffee had left home to go stay the night with her aunt but had pulled up at the Sonic and fallen asleep. After she was awakened, the officer noticed that Coffee’s speech was slurred and she appeared to be unsteady on her feet. Coffee submitted to field sobriety tasks but performed poorly. During a search incident to arrest, police found a small black baggie concealed on Coffee’s person containing 1.9 grams of a green leafy substance believed to be marijuana. Bond for Coffee is $1,500 and her court date is August 23.
32 year old Tracy Ann Thomason of 200 The Loop Circle was arrested on Tuesday, August 7 for public intoxication. Police were called to the area of 316 Dearman Street where a woman, Thomason, had been observed going door to door. She appeared under the influence of drugs or alcohol. Upon arrival the officer spoke with Thomason. He found her to be very belligerent, unsteady on her feet, and talking out of her head. Because she appeared to be under the influence of drugs, Thomason was placed in custody for her safety and that of the public. Her bond is $2,500.