The DeKalb Prevention Coalition Teams with DEA for National Prescription Drug Take Back Day

October 4, 2023
By: Dwayne Page

On Saturday, October 28, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. the DeKalb Prevention Coalition and the Drug Enforcement Administration will host DEA’s National Prescription Drug Take Back Day at two locations in DeKalb County. DEA and its partners will collect tablets, capsules, patches, and other solid forms of prescription drugs.

Take Back locations locally are Smithville City Hall, 104 East Main Street and the Alexandria City Hall, 102 High Street.

For more than a decade, the event has helped Americans easily rid their homes of unneeded medications—those that are old, unwanted, or expired—that too often become a gateway to addiction.

Take Back Day offers free and anonymous disposal of unneeded medications at more than 4,000 local drop-off locations nationwide.

In partnership with local law enforcement, Take Back Day has removed more than 8,300 tons of medication from circulation since its inception.

Collection sites will not accept syringes, sharps, and illicit drugs. Liquid products, such as cough syrup, should remain sealed in their original container. The cap must be tightly sealed to prevent leakage.

For more information visit www.DEATakeBack.com.

October 4, 2023
By: Dwayne Page

A Springfield woman had her day in court last Friday, September 29 on charges of evading arrest and promotion of the manufacture of methamphetamine.

36-year-old Kaleigha Beth Arnold entered a plea to the offenses and received a sentence of four years in the meth case and one year for the evading charge to run concurrently but all suspended to supervised probation except for one year to serve. She was fined $2,000. The sentence is also to run concurrently with a White County case against her.

Sheriff Patrick Ray said that on Saturday May 6 a deputy was traveling east on Highway 70 when he spotted a silver Honda Pilot fail to maintain its lane of travel. He had the license tag checked through central dispatch and learned that the car had been stolen in Smithville. The officer got behind the vehicle and turned on his emergency lights and sirens but the driver, Arnold failed to stop. He then started a pursuit of the car east on Highway 70 and along the way Arnold passed and almost hit several other vehicles. As the pursuit left DeKalb County, White County deputies assisted in trying to get the fleeing car to stop by putting down spike strips near Old Kentucky Road but even with a successful deployment of the spike strips the car continued east and rammed two White County patrol cars causing damage to both vehicles. Officers of both the DeKalb County and White County Sheriff’s Departments eventually stopped the car and removed Arnold from the vehicle.

According to Sheriff Ray, Arnold admitted to having stolen the car, having taking heroin two hours prior to driving, and having been in possession of narcotics and drug paraphernalia. A search of the vehicle turned up a black zip up bag containing a glass mason jar with used and moist brown paper towels, clear tubing, a glass beaker wrapped in black electrical tape with residue. Coffee filters were also found in the interior zip up pocket of the bag as well as red phosphorous and several matchbooks all normally used in the production of methamphetamine.

Sheriff Ray said officers also found in the car two syringes, a glass pipe with residue, scales and other items used for narcotics as well as a gray zip up container with several tools and a lock pick kit used to gain access to the vehicle. On the driver side, Sheriff Ray said officers found a red, black and green rubber container that held an orange-colored substance believed to be heroin. In the center console was a red Swisher Sweet package containing 34 yellow pills thought to be Gabapentin.

Arnold has two prior convictions for simple possession and a driving on a suspended license offense in Robertson County in December 2022 for failure to satisfy fines. Because she appeared to be intoxicated or high at the time of her arrest, Arnold was charged with driving under the influence, and she refused to submit to a blood test resulting in a charge of violation of implied consent.

October 3, 2023
By: Dwayne Page

A 67-year-old Nashville businessman accused of financially exploiting a 74-year-old Smithville woman has been indicted by the DeKalb County Grand Jury. He was charged with similar offenses in Williamson and Rutherford counties.

Michael David Verble, a native of Livingston raised in Hot Springs Arkansas, was indicted in July for financial exploitation of an elderly adult. Verble’s professional background is listed as having experience in the health care, financial services and insurance industries.

Assistant District Attorney General Greg Strong told WJLE Tuesday that Verble took $3,500 from the Smithville woman to set up a trust account and never followed through. His bond on this charge is $10,000 and he is facing arraignment in DeKalb County Criminal Court. Verble is in TDOC custody in the Rutherford County jail.

The indictment alleges that “on or about October 2019, Verble did unlawfully and knowingly through the use of deception financially exploit an elderly DeKalb County woman in violation of state law.”

More than two years ago, special agents from the TBI’s Medicaid Fraud Control Division obtained indictments charging Verble with financially exploiting an elderly client in Rutherford County.

In that case, TBI began its investigation of Verble after receiving information from the Tennessee Department of Human Services Adult Protective Services. During the probe, agents determined Verble gained the confidence of an elderly client and manipulated a trust account that was established.

On August 4th, 2021 the Rutherford County Grand Jury returned indictments, charging Verble with one count of Financial Exploitation of an Elderly or Vulnerable Adult and one count of Theft.

Meanwhile an earlier Williamson County Grand Jury indictment against Verble included two counts of financial exploitation of an elderly person and theft of at least $10,000 but less than $60,000 resulting from what it alleged was his commission of fraud while operating a business.

“Mr. Verble committed these frauds while operating under the business Verble Estate Preservation and Advisors,” according to a Franklin Police Department news release. “Franklin Police Detectives began investigating this case in November 2019 after receiving a referral from Adult Protective Services.”

According to the Verble Estate Preservation and Advisors website at the time, the company offered financial advisement for seniors, specifically around social security payments.

“Our mission is to provide you with financial strategies that may create financial clarity and improve your quality of life. Making a strong commitment to families nearing or already enjoying retirement and building a lifelong relationship with them are tenets of our success,” the website read.

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