Two Arrested on Meth Charges During Traffic Stop

October 15, 2024
By: Dwayne Page

Two people found with methamphetamine during a traffic stop were arrested last month and will make a court appearance on October 24.

22-year-old Deziree Lanore Deters of McMinnville is charged with possession of methamphetamine with intent to manufacture, sell or deliver. She was also cited for a violation of driving on roadways laned for travel and for no insurance. Her bond is $5,000. Meanwhile, 58-year-old Paul Green Cantrell of Old Blue Springs Road, Smithville is charged with possession of drug paraphernalia; fabricating or tampering with evidence; and possession of methamphetamine with intent to manufacture, sell, or deliver. His bond totals $61,500. Both Deters and Cantrell will appear in court on these charges October 24.

Sheriff Patrick Ray said that on September 30 a deputy was patrolling on Short Mountain Highway when he spotted Deters leaving her lane of travel while operating a motor vehicle. He stopped the automobile and spoke with Deters and after she gave him consent to search, the officer found a plastic bag behind the driver’s seat which held a piece of paper containing a crystal-like substance believed to be methamphetamine.

Cantrell, a passenger was asked to exit the vehicle and upon doing so he reached inside his pocket and then threw an item into the grass which turned out to be a clear glass pipe with residue believed to have been used for smoking methamphetamine. Cantrell also held a paper towel but was told to drop it. Inside the paper towel was a crystal-like substance believed to be methamphetamine.

38-year-old Ronald Joshua Carter of Carter Drive, Smithville is charged with unlawful possession of a weapon and possession of drug paraphernalia. His bond is $17,500 and he will be in court October 24. Sheriff Ray said that on October 2 a deputy assisted Tennessee Department of Corrections Probation Officers in a probation search at Carter’s home. While searching the residence, twenty 410 shotgun shells as well as twelve 22 long rifle bullets were found. Carter is a convicted drug felon and is not to have possession of any ammunition. During a search of Carter’s bedroom, officers also found eight used needles, a can with a used cotton ball, and a baggie with an orange powder residue believed to be Fentanyl.

Three other people were arrested in that same probation search. Two of them, 23-year-old Anna Danielle Skelton and 33-year-old Jonathon Allen Knowles both of Carter Drive, Smithville are each charged with possession of drug paraphernalia, and each is under a $2,500 bond. Inside their bedroom, officers found four glass pipes as well as two scales with residue. Sheriff Ray said the partial homeowner told officers that this was the bedroom of both Skelton and Knowles and that no one else had been there and that the door stays locked.

The third defendant, 39-year-old Jay Lee Mullican of Johnson’s Chapel Road, Sparta is charged with possession of drug paraphernalia and possession of a controlled substance with intent to manufacture, sell or deliver. His bond is $52,500 and he will be in court October 24. While searching the residence on Carter Drive, officers found in Mullican’s bedroom a pill bottle with a pink powder and home pressed pills believed to be Fentanyl which with the container weighed 24.90 grams. Also found were two glass pipes with residue, a scale with residue, a box of baggies, a small baggie with a crystal-like residue, torn up pieces of aluminum foil, and four straws with residue. The partial homeowner said Mullican had been allowed to stay in that bedroom.

52-year-old Delvolon Wayne Skelton of Ferrell Road, Smithville is charged with driving on a revoked or suspended license. His bond is $6,000 and he will be in court October 24. Sheriff Ray said that on October 3 a deputy was patrolling Ferrell Road when he spotted Skelton driving a black Chevy S-10. Knowing that Skelton’s license was revoked, the officer confronted him at his residence and confirmed through central dispatch that his license was revoked. He has had three prior charges for the same offense.

49-year-old Kris Douglas Waggoner of Sparta is charged with public intoxication. His bond is $1,500 and he will be in court November 7. Sheriff Ray said that on October 5 a deputy was summoned to Felts Road in reference to a man who appeared to be under the influence while at the dump site behind his truck. Upon arrival the officer spoke with the man, Waggoner who was sitting in the bed of his truck. He appeared to be confused and was twitching. When he rose to his feet Waggoner was very unsteady and unable to stand without leaning on his truck. He was then taken into custody.

October 15, 2024
By: Dwayne Page

One of several people indicted by the grand jury in August following a joint undercover investigation appeared for sentencing in DeKalb County Criminal Court on Monday, October 7.

65-year-old Ricky Lee Dowell, indicted for sale and delivery of a schedule II drug (methamphetamine) over 0.5 grams and sale and delivery of a schedule III drug (Buprenorphine), entered a plea to one count of sale of a schedule III drug and received a four-year sentence on supervised probation under judicial diversion. He was fined $2,000 and given jail credit of 54 days.

The joint undercover drug investigation was conducted over several months by the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office, Smithville Police Department, and Tennessee Bureau of Investigation targeting several persons accused of illegally selling narcotics including methamphetamine.

October 15, 2024
By: Dwayne Page

From natural disasters to fires, auto crashes, law enforcement investigations, and search and rescue operations, emergency response efforts need reliable communication channels to coordinate their efforts when seconds count.

For years, the DeKalb County government has operated with a radio system made up of conventional analog technology to communicate between central dispatch and local law enforcement agencies, fire departments, EMS, and rescue squad. But over time, the system’s technology has become antiquated and more unreliable.

In recent months the county began funding upgrades in mobile and fixed radio transmission technology and joined the Tennessee Advanced Communications Network (TACN) which provides first responders the ability to better communicate locally and have additional coverage to talk on the radio with surrounding state communication towers during major events and disasters.

As part of the plan, a new TACN network communications tower is being proposed to be erected at the new Liberty Fire Station, on the property jointly owned by the towns of Liberty and Dowelltown, but leased to the county. Apparently in order for the tower project to move forward the towns of Liberty and Dowelltown have to signal their support.

Liberty Mayor Audrey Martin has called for a special meeting of the Liberty Mayor and Aldermen for Saturday, October 19 at 10 a.m. at the town hall to discuss the issue. According to the public notice, County Mayor Matt Adcock, 911 Director Brad Mullinax, and others including a representative from the state will be at the meeting to explain the reason for the new TACN system and to answer any questions pertaining to this tower. The meeting is open to the public and everyone is encouraged to attend.

County Mayor Adcock explained in an email post the reasons why improving emergency communications is important.

“I would like to address you today over the proposed concerns of the TACN tower in the community of Liberty here in DeKalb County. It is evident that this project is of utmost importance in providing stable communications for our emergency services. The local governments including the county and municipalities have committed to joining the TACN system and state infrastructure. It is critical that we support the improvements and upgrades to this system and infrastructure to better serve our citizens in the communities that they dwell amongst,” said Adcock.

“The proposal for this new TACN tower will provide better radio communications and directly benefit the towns of Liberty and Dowelltown in the event of an emergency. This TACN tower will serve our local agencies such as the DeKalb County Fire Department to improve fire protection in Liberty and Dowelltown and it will provide improved radio communications for the DeKalb County EMS (ambulance service) in delivering emergency medical services for the towns of Dowelltown and Liberty. This tower will benefit the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Department in providing law enforcement services for Dowelltown and Liberty and it will enhance radio communications to all state agencies including but not limited to, the Tennessee Highway Patrol, the Tennessee Wildlife Resource Agency, and the Tennessee Emergency Management Agency which provide many beneficial services to our county and provide for the safety of our citizens and their families,” County Mayor Adcock explained.

In January, Jeff Gray, Director of the Tennessee Advanced Communication Network, addressed the county commission about the advantages to the county of being part of the TACN network.

With TACN, Gray explained that first responders, including law enforcement, fire, EMS, and healthcare providers, would have reliable communications capabilities for daily operations and the ability to talk to each other to coordinate at the local, regional, and statewide level to respond in the event of an emergency or disaster.

According to Gray, TACN is made up of mobile and fixed radio transmission sites across the state so that from Tennessee’s urban to most rural areas, first responders have consistent communication coverage. “No matter where you are in Tennessee, even when other means of communication fail, TACN offers seamless communication for our partners. TACN has built-in redundancy to ensure the network still offers statewide coverage in the event any location becomes inoperable after a natural or man-made disaster,” said Gray
Because disasters know no boundaries, with TACN, local, state, and federal public safety agencies can respond as many but communicate as one. This interoperable communication is key to providing a swift and organized response that will save time, money, and citizens’ lives. And when infrastructure maintenance, repair, or an upgrade is required, the state bears the expense and not the TACN partnering county.

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