Undercover Investigation Results in Grand Jury Indictments

October 31, 2018
By: Dwayne Page

The DeKalb County Grand Jury met in special session Monday and returned sealed indictments in several drug and theft cases along with a statutory rape investigation by the Sheriff’s Department.  The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation also presented two drug cases to the Grand Jury.

In a prepared statement, Sheriff Patrick Ray said the indictments were the result of an undercover drug operation which started in February. The drug buys included marijuana, methamphetamine, cocaine, morphine, roxicodone, xanax, oxycodone, and suboxone.

“We made controlled undercover drug buys in different areas of the county including the cities of Alexandria, Dowelltown, and Smithville. We also made controlled undercover drug buys in different communities of the county including the Blue Springs, Snow Hill, Cookeville Highway, Midway, and Short Mountain Highway communities.”

“Some of these buys were in the drug free zone or school zones which are drug free. What that actually means is that when we charge somebody with “violation of the drug free zone or school zone”, it ups the felony charge a class. So if somebody gets charged with a C felony, it ups it to a B felony. Upon a conviction of the charge, the defendant would serve 100% of the jail time. A Drug free zone or Drug Free School Zone is 1,000 feet of any public or private school, preschool, child care agency, public library, recreational center, or recreational parks such as a ballpark,” he continued.

“I want to thank all of my department, especially my Detectives and Chief Deputy who worked on this drug operation and for the job that they are doing in our county. I am very proud to employ people with the professionalism and the desire to work at their jobs so that a difference can be made for the citizens of the county to enjoy their quality of life. My Department is very focused on charging anyone who plagues our county with the sale of illegal drugs. Today’s arrests are an important step to all of us who live, work or visit in DeKalb County,” said Sheriff Ray.

“I encourage anyone who knows anybody that is selling drugs to call our drug tip line at 615-464-6400. We also have a website, www.dekalbsherifftn.com, which has links on the left hand side of the web page where you see “crime stoppers” and “stop drug dealers”. You can get on there and share your information. We can gather it off of there. You can always contact me at the jail and tell anything that you know. Everything is confidential,” Sheriff Ray said.

Those served with indictments to date include the following:

*57 year old Jimmy (TONY) Anthony Davis of Seven Springs Road indicted for 2 counts of sale and delivery of a schedule II controlled substance (roxicodone); 1 count of sale and delivery of a schedule IV controlled substance (xanax); and 4 counts of a drug free zone. His bond is $100,000. He will be arraigned in criminal court on December 11.

*18 year old Robert Stephen Derrick of Toad Road, Dowelltown indicted for 2 counts of sale and delivery of a schedule VI controlled substance (marijuana). His bond is $10,000. He will be arraigned December 11.

*53 year old Vincent Rodolphus Helser of Old Snow Hill Road Dowelltown indicted for 3 counts of sale and delivery of a schedule II controlled substance (methamphetamine) and 2 counts of a drug free zone. He is under a $75,000 bond and will be arraigned December 11.

*53 year old Angela Louise Howell of Cecil Hale Road, Smithville is indicted for 4 counts of sale and delivery of a schedule II controlled substance (methamphetamine) from drug buys and 1 count of sale and delivery of a schedule II controlled substance (methamphetamine) on a search warrant the Sheriff’s Department executed on May 23, 2018 at Howell’s residence on Cecil Hale Road. Her bond is $200,000 and she will be arraigned December 11.

*40 year old Jessica Renee Owen of Twilla Lane, Smithville is indicted for 1 count of sale and delivery of a schedule II controlled substance (roxicodone) and 2 counts of a drug free zone. She is under a $75,000 bond and will be arraigned December 11

*42 year old Tyrone Dewayne Owens of Shady Drive, Smithville is indicted for 2 counts of sale and delivery of a schedule II controlled substance  (methamphetamine). His bond is $50,000 and he will be arraigned December 11.

*66 year old Judy Ann Phillips of V.L. Wilson Loop, Smithville indicted for 2 counts of sale and delivery of a schedule II controlled substance (morphine) and 4 counts of a drug free zone. Her bond is $50,000 and she will be arraigned December 11.

*39 year old Laurie Anne Southard of Circle Drive, Dowelltown is indicted for 2 counts of sale and delivery of a schedule IV controlled substance (xanax) . She is under a $25,000.00 bond and will be arraigned December 11.

*27 year old Damon Lee West of Laverne Street, Alexandria is indicted for 1 count of sale and delivery of a schedule II controlled substance (methamphetamine) and 1 count of sale and delivery of a schedule II controlled substance  (oxycodone) . His bond is $50,000 and he will be arraigned December 11.

*29 year old Travis Eric Patterson of Toad Road, Dowelltown is indicted for 1 count of sale and delivery of a schedule II controlled substance (cocaine); 3 counts of sale and delivery of a schedule II controlled substance (methamphetamine); 1 count of unlawful possession of a weapon by a felon; 1 count of burglary; 1 count of theft of property; and 1 count of vandalism. His bond is $350,000 and he will be arraigned December 11.

*35 year old James Skyler Miller of South 25^th Street New Castle Indiana is indicted for 2 counts of statutory rape. He allegedly had sex with a 16 year old in May and July 2017. Miller was 33 years old at that time. He is a registered sex offender in Indiana

*60 year old Richard Lee Franklin of Winter Drive, Dowelltown is indicted for 1 count of sale and delivery of a schedule III controlled substance (suboxone) . He is under a $25,000 bond and will be arraigned December 11.

*66 year old Melvin Leon Crips Sr. of Village Place, Smithville is indicted for 1 count of sale and delivery of a schedule II controlled substance  (roxicodone) and 2 counts of a drug free zone. His bond is $75,000 and he will be arraigned December 11

*25 year old Resha Nicole Martin of Kings Court Circle, Smithville is indicted for 2 counts of sale and delivery of a schedule III controlled substance (suboxone). Her bond is $25,000 and she will be arraigned in criminal court December 11.

October 31, 2018
By: Dwayne Page

Two men were taken into custody shortly after midnight this morning (Wednesday) after trying to outrun the Tennessee Highway Patrol reportedly in a stolen car before crashing near the public square downtown Smithville. After the wreck, the two bailed out of the car and attempted to flee on foot.

One of them unwittingly ran in the direction of the jail, which is located on the public square, and was caught by Sheriff Patrick Ray and Detective Stephen Barrett who were standing outside the Sheriff’s Office and saw him approaching.  The arrest was made in front of the law office of Hilton Conger and Harry Lasser, only a few feet from the jail. When the man saw the lettering on the DeKalb County Jail Annex building and realized where he had run to he said to the officers “I will be damn. I ran to the f…ing jail. What a dumba.. (referring to himself)”

The other man, who was armed with a loaded handgun, was arrested in the area by Smithville Police Officer Tyler Patterson.

Both men were turned over to the Tennessee Highway Patrol. Charges are pending. Their names were not available last night.

The pursuit began in Wilson County and continued on Highway 70 into DeKalb County at 11:58 p.m. Tuesday night. A county deputy joined the THP in the pursuit at Liberty and Smithville Police Officers set up a road block at the intersection of Congress Boulevard and Broad Street to keep other traffic from crossing while the pursuit was approaching.

In Smithville the pursuit turned from Broad Street onto College Street at the bridge then east on Webb Street to South First Street before the car crashed on the property of Dr. Starla Meigs Office only a block off the public square.

October 31, 2018
By: Dwayne Page

A total of 2,579 have voted early for the Tennessee General Election with two more days remaining . Early voting has already eclipsed the total number of early voters (1,660) during the mid terms of November 2014 in DeKalb County and early voting totals (2,361) during the August, 2018 election. Two years ago in the November 2016 Presidential Election 3,992 voted early in DeKalb County.

The election is next Tuesday, November 6.

Voters will elect a Governor, U.S. Senator, Congressman in the 6^th District, State Senator in District 17, and State Representatives in Districts 40 & 46.

Candidates for Governor are Republican Bill Lee and Democrat Karl Dean. Twenty six independents are also in the race for Governor.

U.S. Senate candidates are Republican Marsha Blackburn and Democrat Phil Bredesen. Six independents are also running for the U.S. Senate.

Republican John Rose and Democrat Dawn Barlow are in the race for the U.S. House of Representatives from the 6^th Congressional District along with two independents.

Candidates for the State Senate in District 17 are Republican Mark Pody and Democrat Mary Alice Carfi. There are no independents

Republican Terri Lynn Weaver is unopposed for State Representative in District 40

In District 46, Republican Clark Boyd and Democrat Mark Cagle are in the race for State Representative. There are no independents.

According to Administrator of Elections Dennis Stanley, 146 voted Tuesday (144 in person and 2 by absentee); 186 Monday (178 in person and 8 by absentee); 192  Saturday (188 in person and 4 by absentee) 165  Friday (162 in person and 3 by absentee); 286 Thursday (281 in person and 5 by absentee); 182 Wednesday (148 in person and 34 by absentee); 210 Tuesday (203 in person and 7 by absentee); 246 Monday (245 in person and 1 by absentee); 214 Saturday (207 in person and 7 by absentee); 263 last Friday (260 in person and 3 by absentee); 259 last Thursday (257 in person and 2 by absentee). Last Wednesday 230 voted (194 in person and 36 by absentee)

The early voting times are as follows through Thursday, November 1:

Wednesday—9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Thursday—2 p.m. to 6 p.m.

Early voting is on the first floor of the DeKalb County Courthouse.

Election day voting on Tuesday, November 6 is 8:00 a.m. until 7 p.m. at all 15 precincts in the county.

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