Prisoner hospitalized after assault by two other inmates

March 28, 2022
By: Dwayne Page

A prisoner at the DeKalb County jail was seriously injured earlier this month after being assaulted by two other inmates while incarcerated.

Sheriff Patrick Ray said the two inmates accused in the attack, 44-year-old Jermaine Derperise McCoy of Smith Road, Smithville and 40-year-old Garth Layne Cantrell of Young Ridge Road, Sparta will make a court appearance in the case April 14.

McCoy is charged with aggravated assault and Cantrell’s charge is for assault. Bond is $15,000 for McCoy and $5,000 for Cantrell. The incident occurred at the jail on March 4.

According to Sheriff Ray both McCoy and Cantrell assaulted another inmate during a fight at the jail by kicking him repeatedly. The kicks to the head by McCoy resulted in serious bodily injury to the prisoner who was transported to Vanderbilt Hospital where he had to undergo surgery. The name of the injured prisoner was not released.

33-year-old Michael Darin Caldwell, Jr. of Frazier Street, Smithville is charged with possession of methamphetamine with intent to manufacture, sell or deliver. His bond is $50,000 and he will make a court appearance April 7.

Sheriff Ray said that on March 23 a deputy conducted a traffic stop on a blue Nissan Frontier on Big Rock Road due to a registration violation. The officer asked the driver, Caldwell to step out of the truck and he complied. When asked by the officer if there was anything in the vehicle he needed to know about, Caldwell admitted to having methamphetamine in a container under the driver’s seat. Caldwell also admitted to having sold meth. After obtaining permission to search, the deputy confiscated the container which held a crystal-like substance believed to be methamphetamine. It weighed 16 grams.

31-year-old Joshua Dale Tidwell of Lebanon is charged with public intoxication. He is under a $1,500 bond and his court date is April 14.

Sheriff Ray said that on March 25 a deputy was patrolling Nashville Highway when he spotted a man standing on the white line of the roadway. The officer stopped and spoke with the man, Tidwell who admitted to being under the influence of methamphetamine and hallucinating. Tidwell was then placed under arrest.

41-year-old Mark Denver Young of Barnes Mill Road, Smithville is charged with violation of a protection order. Young’s bond is $3,500 and his court date is April 7.

Sheriff Ray said that on March 26 Young was found in possession of a Phoenix Arms 22 caliber pistol. Under the protection order, Young is prohibited from being in possession of a firearm.

36-year-old Amy Lynett Knowles of Cedar Street, Liberty is charged with public intoxication. Her bond is $1,500 and she will be in court April 14.

Sheriff Ray said that on March 27 a deputy was summoned to McMinnville Highway after several people spotted a woman walking in the roadway. Upon arrival the officer spotted the woman, Knowles walking on the edge of McMinnville Highway near Webb Lane. He stopped and confronted the woman who had a strong odor of alcohol coming from her person and she was unsteady on her feet. When asked, Knowles admitted to having consumed alcohol that night. She was then placed under arrest.

March 28, 2022
By: Dwayne Page

The DeKalb County Sheriff’s Department is welcoming its first ever certified female deputy.

Deputy Jasmine Garza, who began working for the sheriff’s department as a correctional officer in 2019, earned her officer certification at Walter State Community College Police Academy and graduated last Friday, March 25.

“I would like to welcome Deputy Garza who is our first certified female deputy at the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Department,” said Sheriff Patrick Ray. “She worked in corrections at the jail for some time and then worked her way up to jail corporal. She was later promoted as a deputy. Deputy Garza graduated from the Walter State Community College Police Academy last Friday where she had stayed nine weeks for their training course. Chief Deputy Robert Patrick and I went to the graduation last Friday and spoke to many of her instructors and they gave her high praise and compliments while we were there. We are very fortunate to have her on as a deputy,” said Sheriff Ray.

“I graduated high school here in 2017 and started my career at the jail in 2019 as a correctional officer. In 2020 I was promoted to jail corporal until I got sent in January 2022 to the academy. I am now certified and looking forward to getting started,” said Deputy Garza.

“I believe Deputy Garza will be great for recruiting more females into law enforcement as certified officers. She also comes with another great benefit to our department for victims of crime who are females and also for children who are victims of crime. It’s a lot easier for women and children to talk to a female officer versus a male officer so this gives us a great opportunity for that. We are glad to have her on board and we welcome her here,” Sheriff Ray concluded.

March 28, 2022
By: Dwayne Page

Did you know that for only $100 you could adopt a friend for life from the DeKalb Animal Shelter?

Meet “Wilbur” the WJLE/DeKalb Animal Shelter featured “Pet of the Week”

“Wilbur is a three-year-old male cat. He has been neutered and is up to date on his vaccinations with flea prevention on board. He has been de-wormed and is ready to go. This sweet boy just wants to be on your couch and in your lap. Wilbur is good with other cats and people especially kids. He just needs a safe space to go where he can relax. If you are interested in adopting Wilbur visit our website at www.dekalbanimalsheltertn.com and fill out an adoption application. We will then call you to come in and meet him. His adoption fee is $100,” said shelter director Emmaly Bennett.

The shelter is now open Monday-Friday from 8 to 4 and Saturday from 8 to 12 on Transfer Station Road behind Tenneco Automotive.

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