Smithville Police Make Arrest After Finding Drugs and Stolen Weed Eater During Traffic Stop

July 21, 2024
By: Dwayne Page

A Smithville man was found with drugs and a stolen weed eater during a Smithville Police Department traffic stop on Tuesday, July 16.

39-year-old Bryan Christopher Tate of Arnold Road, Smithville is charged with theft of property and possession of methamphetamine with intent to manufacture, sell, or deliver. He was also cited for no insurance and violation of the light law.

Police Chief Mark Collins said that an officer pulled over a BMW for violation of the light law when he spotted a Stihl Weed eater in the passenger front seat. After checking the serial number, the officer learned that the weed eater had been stolen in West Virginia. Tate was then asked to step out of the vehicle. He told the officer that he had dope in his left sock. Four grams of a crystal-like substance believed to be methamphetamine was recovered. Tate was taken into custody. His bond is $16,000 and he will be in court August 1.

56-year-old Christopher Joseph Cantrell of Dearman Street is cited for simple possession of a schedule III drug, no registration, and a violation of the light law. Chief Collins said that during a recent late-night traffic stop for a light law violation, police observed the driver, Cantrell throw a container on the ground which contained a Subutex pill that he admitted belonged to him. Cantrell’s court date is July 31.

50-year-old Erick Mauricio-Choreno is charged with driving under the influence and cited for speeding and violation of the implied consent law. Chief Collins said that on July 2 police conducted a traffic stop after clocking a vehicle traveling 59 miles per hour in a 40 mile per hour speed zone on Sparta Highway. The driver, Choreno was found to have red and watery eyes. His speech was slurred, and he smelled of alcohol. Choreno submitted to but performed poorly on field sobriety tasks. He admitted to having consumed alcohol earlier. An open container was visible in a cup holder inside the automobile. After refusing to submit to a blood draw, a warrant was obtained for a blood sample from him. Choreno’s bond is $2,000.

39-year-old Jana Nicole Witcher is cited for trespassing and theft of property. Chief Collins said that on July 1 police responded to Save A Lot due to a complaint of a trespasser. Upon arrival, the officer confronted the suspect, Witcher and found in her possession several items that she had taken from the store. Her court date is July 18.

44-year-old Nathan Joseph Wilbert is charged with public indecency and simple possession. His bond is $5,000 and he will be in court July 25. Chief Collins said that on July 11 police responded to Hardees due to an activated panic alarm and found Wilbert near the drive thru exposing himself. After placing him in custody the officer found Wilbert with a container that held a green leafy substance believed to be marijuana.

43-year-old Christie Dawn Bouldin is charged with public intoxication. Her bond is $1,500 and she will be in court July 25. Chief Collins said that on July 12 police were summoned to 310 Wade Street where Bouldin was spotted trying to get into a car. Upon arrival the officer confronted Bouldin. She appeared to be very euphoric, and her pupils were constricted consistent with narcotic use. She was placed in custody.

59-year-old Richard Clifton Warner of Coconut Ridge Road, Smithville is charged with driving under the influence. His bond is $3,500 and he will be in court August 1. Chief Collins said that on July 13 police responded to a vehicle accident at 600 East Broad Street and upon arrival found one of the drivers involved in the crash, Warner sitting on the sidewalk. He was very unstable on his feet; his speech was slurred, and he smelled of alcohol. Warner refused to submit to a blood draw and field sobriety tasks. A warrant was obtained for a blood sample from him. No one was seriously injured in the accident.

62-year-old Benny Close of 708 West Main Street is charged with aggravated assault. Chief Collins said that on July 6 police were dispatched to 717 West Main Street due to an aggravated assault complaint. Upon arrival the officer spoke with a woman who had visible injuries on her face and neck. The woman said Close, a neighbor, attacked her when she went to his home to check on him. When Close came the door, he allegedly struck the woman in the face and tried to choke her. Close’s court date is July 25. He is under a $6,500 bond.

42-year-old Gilberto Juarez of Kendra Drive is charged with driving under the influence. His bond is $1,500 and he will be in court July 25. Chief Collins said that on July 7 police were summoned to the parking lot of Dollar Tree where a man was observed stumbling while getting out of his car. Juarez was backing out of his parking spot as the officer arrived. Juarez was pulled over and found to be unsteady on his feet. His eyes were red and watery, and he smelled of alcohol. Juarez admitted to having consumed several beers earlier.

47-year-old Jimmy Estes is charged with criminal trespassing, resisting arrest, possession of legend drugs, and possession of drug paraphernalia. His bond is $11,000 and he will be in court July 25. Chief Collins said that on July 7 police were called to Highland Avenue due to a trespasser. Upon arrival the officer spoke with the homeowner who reported that Estes was on the property and would not leave even though he had previously been ordered to stay away. The officer confronted an irate Estes and while placing him in custody, Estes refused to cooperate with commands and tried to pull away. A search of his person turned up a bottle containing prescription pills, but the label had been torn off the bottle. A pipe with residue was also found.

July 21, 2024
By: Dwayne Page

DeKalb County closed out the 2023-24 fiscal year on a high note at least as far as collections of local option sales taxes is concerned.

According to the Tennessee Department of Revenue net collections for the month of June (DeKalb County and all four cities combined) were $676, 466. It was the second-best month of the year (2023-24) followed by January at $846,718. June 2024 topped collections for June 2023 ($633,472) by almost $43,000.

The following are the local option sales tax collections by month for DeKalb County and the Cities in DeKalb County for the 2023-24 fiscal year and which months were best for each:

DeKalb County: January-$222,079; July-$210,447; June-$204,553; September-$192,082; October-$176,794; May-$175,278; November-$171,014; April- $170,469; December-$168,325; March-$145,744; February-$138,326; and August-$106,885

Smithville: January-$573,752; April- $426,387; July- $422,519; June-$413,111; May-$397,525; December-$392,126; March-$371,116; November-$367,352; August-$365,273; February-$359,089; September-$334,428; and October-$320,369

Alexandria: January-$32,635; February-$30,420; August-$30,418; July-$29,741; December-$29,672; April-$29,610; May-$29,309; September-$28,894; October-$28,779; November-$28,266; June-$28,110; and March-$26,942

Liberty: June-$27,328; May-$18,367; March-$14,130; January-$13,933; April-$13,575; December-$12,527; November-$12,499; August- $11,496; October-$11,463; July-$10,528; February-$9,948; and September-$9,906

Dowelltown: August-$4,437; February-$4,428; January-$4,318; March-$3,524; December-$3,510; May-$3,499; June-$3,362; April-$3,342; October-$3,140; July-$3,044; November-$3,014; and September-$3,001

DeKalb County’s net local option sales tax collections with the cities included for the year by month were as follows: January-$846,718; June-$676,466; July-$676,282; April-$643,385; May-$623,979; December-$606,162; November-$582,147; September-$568,313; March-$561,458; February-$542,212; October-$540,546; and August-$518,510.

June sales tax collections reflect previous month activity.

July 21, 2024
By: Dwayne Page

A total of 342 people has cast ballots during the first eight days of early voting for the August 1 elections.

Sample Ballot

On Saturday July 20 the election commission reports that in Smithville at the courthouse 30 voted and from that number 26 cast ballots in the Tennessee Republican Primary and 4 in the state Democratic Primary.

Early voting is underway through July 27.

Early voters may cast ballots at the courthouse in Smithville during a six-hour period on Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday from 9 a.m. until 3 p.m. and Tuesday from 12 noon until 6 p.m. Saturday voting will be from 9 a.m. until noon.

In Alexandria, early voting will take place again on Tuesday, July 23 from 12 noon until 6 p.m. at the Kenneth Sandlin Center on the DeKalb County Fairgrounds.

The elections on Thursday, August 1 will include the DeKalb County General Election, Municipal Elections in Smithville, Dowelltown, and Alexandria, and the Tennessee Republican and Democratic Primaries.

The deadline to update an address on voter registrations is Friday, July 26.

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