Biker who fled on foot to evade arrest on drug charges 16 months ago finally arrested

July 1, 2024
By: Dwayne Page

A motorcycle operator who fled on foot after being found with meth and cocaine more than 16 months ago was apprehended last week and charged in the case.

44-year-old Hani Mohamad (BJ) Ittayem of Walker Street, Smithville is charged with possession of methamphetamine with intent to manufacture, sell, or deliver; possession of a schedule II drug (cocaine); and evading arrest on foot. His bond totals $77,500 and he will be in court July 11.

Sheriff Patrick Ray said that on February 19, 2023 a detective tried to confront Ittayem but he fled into the woods on foot after abandoning the motorcycle he had been operating. The detective conducted a visual inspection of the motorcycle and found on it a green scale with residue. A further search of the motorcycle yielded a bag which held a clear crystal-like substance believed to be methamphetamine that weighed 19.78 grams and a white powdery substance thought to be cocaine which weighed 3.69 grams.

A man who since November had evaded arrest was finally taken into custody on Monday June 24 charged with two counts of resisting arrest. He was already wanted for violation of an order of protection.

23-year-old Marcus Jay Majka of Midway Road, Smithville is under a $5,000 bond and his court date is July 11.

Sheriff Ray said that on November 24, 2023 a deputy first located Majka at a residence on Kings Court Road where he intended to arrest him for a violation of an order of protection, but Majka jumped out of a window and ran off into the woods.

The next confrontation came almost two months later on January 11, 2024 when a deputy went to East Broad Street Apartments where he tried to arrest Majka on several warrants. According to Sheriff Ray, when Majka opened the apartment door and saw the officer standing there, he slammed the door, ran through the house, jumped out of a second story window, and fled on foot. The deputy ordered Majka to stop but he refused. Officers conducted an extensive search of the area but could not locate Majka.

45-year-old Gregory Wayne Roberts of Midway Road, Smithville is charged with criminal trespassing. He is under a $7,500 bond and his court date is July 18. Sheriff Ray said that on June 27 a deputy was summoned to a residence on Midway Road due to a complaint of a trespasser and reckless burning. Upon arrival the officer confronted the suspect, Roberts who was still on the property. Knowing that Roberts had committed the same offense (trespassing) there before, he was placed under arrest.

53-year-old Christopher Dwayne Cole of Cookeville Highway, Smithville is charged with public intoxication. His bond is $1,500 and he will make a court appearance on July 25. Sheriff Ray said that on June 30 Cole was at Pates Ford Marina in an intoxicated state. He was unsteady on his feet. His eyes were bloodshot, and he admitted to having consumed alcohol. Cole was placed under arrest.

29-year-old Kaylea Morgan Davidson of Banks Pisgah Road, Smithville is charged with driving under the influence and child abuse or neglect. Her bond is $6,000 and she will make a court appearance on July 25. Sheriff Ray said that on June 30 a deputy was called to a traffic accident on Banks Pisgah Road involving a Nissan Sentra that had wrecked in a ditch. Upon arrival the officer spoke with the driver of the vehicle, Davidson and with her was a 6-year-old child. Davidson smelled of alcohol. Her eyes were glossy and her speech was slurred. She admitted to having consumed two beers two hours prior to the accident. She submitted to but performed poorly on field sobriety tasks.

30-year-old Joel Cabrera Castillo of Big Hurricane Road, Smithville is charged with violation of bond conditions. He is under a $2,500 bond in this case and his court date is July 11. Sheriff Ray said that on June 29 Castillo was at his mother’s residence on Big Hurricane Road where a deputy had gone to investigate a domestic assault. Central dispatch informed the deputy of an NCIC check which revealed that there were active bond conditions on Castillo from a domestic assault charge against his mother on September 2, 2023. Under conditions of the bond, Castillo was to have no contact with her.

July 1, 2024
By:

The Leadership DeKalb Class of 2024 attended a graduation celebration held June 18 at Hosanna Farm in Alexandria. They reflected on the past nine months of learning and team building by seeing pictures and retelling stories. Members now have a network of friends, mentors, and community leaders to lean on in the future. They are equipped with the knowledge and skills to make a difference in their homes, work places, organizations, and communities.

The Class of 2024 includes Shara Adcock (C&S Farms and the Realty Firm), Emily Bell (Hosanna Farm), Randy Caldwell (The Purple Door), Patyn Carter (DCHS Student), Tom Clark (Lakeview Mountain Estate HOA), Autumn Duke (Wilson bank & Trust), Amy Estes (Tenneco), Ethan Hale (Middle Tn Natural Gas), Brynn Harvey (DCHS Student), Joe Mitchell (DTC), Melissa Mullins (Liberty State Bank), Zack Vantrease (Wilson Bank & Trust), and Rick Walker (The Arts Garage). Thank you to THE BEST CLASS EVER! We also want to thank all of our sponsors, speakers, and volunteers who helped throughout the year.

Applications for the class of 2025 will be available soon! If you would like to participate, you may call the DeKalb County Chamber of Commerce at 615-597-4163 or email leaddekalb1@gmail.com

July 1, 2024
By: Dwayne Page

DeKalb County residents must be registered to vote by Tuesday, July 2, 2024 to be able to cast a ballot in the DeKalb County General Election and the state and federal primaries on Thursday, August 1, 2024.

Primary elections will be held for U.S. Senate, U.S. House of Representatives, Tennessee Senate (even-numbered districts), and Tennessee House of Representatives. General elections will be held for vacant state judicial offices and applicable county offices.

Registering to vote, updating your address or checking your registration status is fast, easy and secure with the Secretary of State’s online voter registration system. Any U.S. citizen with a driver’s license or photo ID issued by the Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security can register online from any computer or mobile device at GoVoteTN.gov.

“I encourage all Tennesseans to register to vote or make sure their registration is up-to-date before the deadline,” said Secretary of State Tre Hargett. “It is important for all of us to make our voice heard at the polls and with our convenient online voter registration system you can safely register in minutes.”

Paper voter registration applications are available to download on GoVoteTN.gov or at the DeKalb County Election Commission Office or at www.dekalbelections.com. Completed paper voter registration applications can be submitted in person by close of business at 4 p.m. Tuesday, July 2 or if mailed it must be postmarked by Tuesday, July 2, 2024.

The DeKalb County Election Commission is located on the first floor of the DeKalb County Courthouse in Smithville. Voters can drop off completed registration forms or register in person Tuesday, July 2 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. in time for the August 1 elections.

For more information about registering to vote, voter eligibility and other election information, visit GoVoteTN.gov or contact the DeKalb County Election Commission. Phone 615-597-4146.

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