Liberty Man Arrested in Burglary and Theft

November 15, 2021
By: Dwayne Page

A Liberty man was arrested last week in a burglary and theft investigation.

60 year old James Rick Ashford, Sr. is charged with aggravated burglary and theft of property. His bond totals $6,500 and he will be in court December 2.

Sheriff Patrick Ray said that on November 10 Ashford entered a residence on Big Woods Road without permission and stole a phone from the kitchen.

“A deputy was called to a residence on Big Woods Road due to a report of stolen property. The victim said that Ashford came to the home and entered through the back door without permission. Once inside, Ashford started screaming and approached the victim in an aggressive manner before witnesses intervened. After Ashford left the victim noticed a phone missing from the kitchen. Ashford was later arrested and he admitted to having the phone. Blood evidence was collected at the back door of the residence where Ashford entered. The value of the phone is $400,” said Sheriff Ray.

44 year old Harry Carlson McIntosh of Old Bildad Road, Smithville is charged with violation of bond conditions. His bond is $2,500 and he will be in court December 2.

Sheriff Ray said that on November 11 a deputy was dispatched to a residence on Old Bildad Road to conduct a welfare check on a woman. Upon arrival he spoke with the woman who said she was okay. Knowing there had been prior complaints of domestic violence there, the officer asked if anyone else was present and the woman replied “no”. The deputy was then granted permission to conduct a walk thru of the home and found McIntosh hiding behind a couch. A background computer check through central dispatch confirmed that McIntosh was under active bond conditions to have no contact with this woman.

37 year old Joshua Walter Hodges of Old Post Road, McMinnville is charged with being a fugitive from justice. His bond is $50,000 and he will make a court appearance December 2.

Sheriff Ray said that on November 10 while being incarcerated at the sheriff’s department, Hodges was found to have an active warrant for his arrest from the state of Alabama with a nationwide extradition confirmed.

53 year old Timothy Scott Bruner of Sparta is charged with driving under the influence. His bond is $1,500 and he will make a court appearance December 2.

Sheriff Ray said that on November 8 after being informed that Bruner might be driving drunk, a sheriff’s department detective spotted Bruner driving a black Ford F150 on South Congress Boulevard and noticed him cross the white line on the right side of the roadway. The registration on Bruner’s truck was also expired. The detective conducted a traffic stop and spoke with Bruner whose speech was slow and slurred and his eyes were glassy and watery. Open containers of beer were visible in the truck. Bruner refused to submit to standardized field sobriety tasks and implied consent.

36 year old Nicholas Cody Walls of Coconut Ridge Road, Smithville is charged with violation of an order of protection. His bond is $2,500 and he will be in court December 2.

Sheriff Ray said that on November 8 a deputy was dispatched to a residence on Coconut Ridge Road due to a domestic dispute between a mother and son. Upon arrival the officer learned that the incident grew out of a verbal argument but he further discovered through central dispatch that an active full order of protection was in place against Walls for him to keep away from his mother.

42 year old Russell Shannon Estes of Short Mountain Highway, Smithville is charged with aggravated assault. His bond is $5,000 and he will make a court appearance December 2.

Sheriff Ray said that on November 9 a deputy received a report from Estes’ girlfriend who said that on November 7 she and Estes got into an argument which led to him trying to strangle her resulting in bruises to her neck and throat.

November 15, 2021
By: Dwayne Page

The City of Smithville has two new four-door Dodge Chargers for the Police Department thanks to a USDA grant which paid for most of the costs.

The combined costs of the two Dodge Chargers was $51,630 but the city was approved for a USDA grant in the amount of $41,336 toward the purchase. The city’s local matching portion was $10,294.

The two new vehicles replace two older Ford Crown Victoria police cars which are being retired from service.

November 15, 2021
By: Dwayne Page

The DeKalb County School District reported 7 positive cases of COVID on Friday, November 12 which is up from 5 cases the previous week.

There were 5 positive cases on Monday, November 8 including 2 at DeKalb West School and 1 each at DCHS. DeKalb Middle School, and Smithville Elementary. By Friday, November 12 there were 7 cases district-wide including 6 at DeKalb West School and 1 at Smithville Elementary School.

The number of those under quarantine increased from 23 on Monday, November 8 to 30 by Friday, November 12.

According to Attendance Supervisor Joey Reeder, there were 8 under quarantine at DCHS, 6 at DeKalb West School, 5 at Northside Elementary, 3 at Smithville Elementary and 1 at DeKalb Middle School on Monday, November 8. By Friday, November 12 the number increased to 30 district-wide including 14 at DeKalb West School, 7 at DCHS, 4 at Smithville Elementary, 3 at Northside Elementary, and 2 at DeKalb Middle School.

The district reported 1 absence among the staff on Friday, November 12 due to a positive case or quarantine

Meanwhile the number of active COVID cases in DeKalb County as of Friday, November 12 was 32 (down from 37 a week earlier) with 6 new cases.

There have been 75 deaths in DeKalb County since the pandemic began in March 2020 (up by 3 since Friday, October 29) and 113 have been hospitalized.

At last report a total of 8,784 people (42.9%) have received at least one dose of COVID vaccine and 7,699 (37.6%) are fully vaccinated in DeKalb County.

Over the last seven days, (November 5- 11) DeKalb County had a case count of 23 for a daily case rate of 16 per 100,000 residents.

For the most recent 14 days, (October 29-November 11) DeKalb County’s case count was 40 for a daily case rate of 13.9 per 100,000 residents.

For the 14 days prior (October 15 to October 28), the case count was 52 for a daily case rate of 18.1 per 100, 000 residents.

From March 5, 2020 to November 11, 2021, DeKalb County has had a total of 4,249 confirmed or probable cases of COVID-19 for a daily case rate of 33.7 per 100,000 residents.

Over the last 7 days the average percent positive was 8.1%.

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