(UPDATED) DeKalb EMS Director Hoyte Hale Died Sunday

September 30, 2024
By: Dwayne Page

The DeKalb County Ambulance Service has lost its leader

Hoyte Hale, who had served as Director of DeKalb EMS for almost nine years, passed away suddenly on Sunday.

“Today, DeKalb County has lost a great public servant,” said County Mayor Matt Adcock. “Hoyte Hale selflessly dedicated his life in emergency services to the community that he loved. We have lost a great friend that was always there for his people and his community. There are not many people on this earth with a heart as big as Hoyte’s,” said County Mayor Adcock.

“Hoyte served the City of Smithville Fire Department faithfully for many years. His passing will leave a great void on the fire department and EMS. We are praying for all Hoyte’s family during this time of loss”, said Smithville Mayor Josh Miller

“I, like the entire Smithville Fire Department, am shocked and devastated by the sudden loss of Deputy Chief Hoyte Hale,” said Smithville Alderman and City Police & Fire Department Commissioner Shawn Jacobs. “ Hoyte was a consummate professional and a true friend to all who knew him.  He for many years was the number one volunteer in attending the most fire calls and often was first on the scene.  Hoyte was especially valuable because he wore two hats – as a firefighter and EMS chief.  His presence will be sorely missed by the community.  I want to extend my most sincere condolences to Hoyte’s family, as well as his comrades at the fire department and EMS,” said Alderman Jacobs.

Hale, an EMT-Paramedic, served as interim EMS director for two and a half years before becoming the director in 2015. Prior to being named interim, Hale was the assistant EMS director for seven years.

In addition to his EMS duties, Hale was also a veteran volunteer firefighter for the Smithville Fire Department having served there for almost 40 years and at the time of his death was Deputy Chief. Hale was an eight-time winner of the department’s “Robert Eller Highest Attendance Award” given in response to the most incidents of anyone during the year.

Mr. Hoyte Eugene Hale age 62 of Smithville, TN passed away suddenly on Sunday, September 29, 2024 at St. Thomas DeKalb Hospital.

Mr. Hale was born on June 29, 1962 in Smithville, TN to his parents, Ray & Margaret Melton Hale. Preceding him in death is his Father, Ray Harvey Hale, Maternal Grandparents, Clarence Otis & Reba Irene Melton, Paternal Grandparents, Jeffery Davis & Aubrey Maey Hale. Several Aunts & Uncles also precede him in death. Mr. Hale attended the Long Branch Community Church.

Hoyte was more than just a boss to his employees and fellow fire fighters; he cared for each one and wanted to be known as a friend all the way though to the end of his watch.

Funeral Services will be held on Wednesday, October 2, 2024 at 2pm at the Smithville First Baptist Church Life Enrichment Center. Visitation with the Hale family will be on Tuesday, from 10am – 1pm and again from 3pm-8pm at Love-Cantrell Funeral Home. Visitation on Wednesday will be from 9am – 12pm at Love-Cantrell Funeral Home at which time Mr. Hale’s remains will be taken to the Smithville First Baptist LEC for visitation from 1pm until the time of the service at 2pm. Burial will follow at DeKalb Memorial Gardens with full Fire Fighters Honors.

Survivors include 3 Sons, Zackary (Destin) Hale of Purvis, MS, Devin Caldwell Hale of Murfreesboro, TN & Quentin (Myrie) Hale of Smithville, TN. 2 Grandchildren, Roman & Bonnie Hale of Purvis, MS. Mother, Margaret Melton Hale of Temperance Hall, TN. Sister, Rosea Young of Smithville, TN. Niece, Tia (Brandon) Puckett of Smithville, TN. Great Nephews, Jackson & Maverick Puckett of Smithville, TN. Mother of his Children, Lesa Hale of Smithville, TN.

The family extends a special thank you to Smithville Fire Dept., DeKalb EMS, & the staff at NHC Healthcare.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the TN Fallen Fire Fighters Memorial in memory of Mr. Hale. Contributions can be made at the funeral home.

September 29, 2024
By: Dwayne Page

A suspected drug dealer was sentenced in DeKalb County Criminal Court last Tuesday.

42-year-old Nathan Joe Trapp entered a plea to possession of methamphetamine for resale and received a 10-year sentence to serve as a range 1 offender. Trapp received jail credit from August 12, 2022 to April 10, 2023 and from September 14, 2023 to September 24, 2024. He was fined $2,000.

Sheriff Patrick Ray said that on Friday, August 12, 2022 a detective and other members of the Sheriff’s Department executed a search warrant at Trapp’s residence and found 650 grams of a crystal like substance believed to be methamphetamine, two whole orange pills and broken pills believed to be Suboxone, two Alprazolam bars, five Clonazepam pills, numerous scales, baggies, and other drug paraphernalia along with two loaded Taurus 9 mm handguns, a loaded DB 5.56 caliber AR-15, and $30,750 in cash. In addition to the money, investigators seized from Trapp a 2003 Nissan Murano and a 2002 Kawasaki Vulcan motorcycle. They also discovered that the VIN number had been removed from the dash, door jams, and frame of a black Chevy Silverado truck on the premises. Trapp’s charges in the August 2022 bust included possession of Suboxone, Alprazolam, and Clonazepam with intent to sell or deliver; and possession of methamphetamine with intent to manufacture, sell or deliver over 300 grams; unlawful possession of a weapon; possession of drug paraphernalia; violation of an order of protection; and alteration of a VIN number. Trapp was charged with the illegal possession of the weapons because he was a convicted felon for two previous aggravated assaults and was not allowed to have any firearms. He went to prison for a time for those crimes.

Meanwhile,44-year-old Brandon Edward Smith entered a plea to two counts of possession with intent to sell methamphetamine under 0.5 grams. He received a 6-year TDOC sentence in each case to run concurrently with each other suspended to supervised probation. He was fined $2,000 in each case and received 39 days jail credit.

58-year-old Paul G. Cantrell entered a plea to two counts of possession with intent to sell methamphetamine over 0.5 grams and received an 8-year TDOC sentenced in each case to run concurrently with each other suspended to supervised probation. He was fined $2,000 in each case and given 25 days jail credit.

56-year-old William Andrew Cantrell entered a plea to possession of a schedule II drug (cocaine) over 0.5 grams and received an 8-year sentence to serve at 30% before his release eligibility date. His case will be furloughed to the 13th Judicial District Recovery Court. He was fined $2,000. Cantrell was given jail credit of 269 days.

46-year-old Rachel Spurlock entered a plea to possession of a schedule II drug (methamphetamine) over 0.5 grams and received an 8-year sentence all suspended to supervised probation. She was fined $2,000 and given jail credit of 114 days.

33-year-old Eric Dwayne Judkins entered a plea to possession with intent to sell a schedule II drug (methamphetamine) under 0.5 grams and received a 6-year TDOC sentence suspended to supervised probation. He was fined $2,000 and given 16 days jail credit

37-year-old Rickey Hendrixson entered a plea to possession of a schedule II drug with intent to sell and received an 8-year sentence on supervised probation. He was fined $2,000 and given 41 days jail credit.

September 28, 2024
By: Dwayne Page

The Smithville Police Department and DeKalb County Sheriff’s Department’s joint Drug Task Force executed a search warrant on September 19 at 1222 South College  Street Apt. C-6 in Smithville, at the residence of 42-year-old Anthony Charles and his brother 46-year-old Jason Richard Skaroupka. A search warrant was obtained from undercover drug buys from this residence.

A joint prepared statement was issued by Sheriff Patrick Ray and Smithville Police Chief Mark Collins.

“During  a search of the residence, a .32 caliber Lorcin handgun, along with drug paraphernalia, such as water bongs, scales, baggies, a marijuana grinder, and used syringes were found”.

“The Skaroupka brothers were not at the residence when the search warrant was executed but were found at a business on Broad Street in Smithville. Jason Skaroupka was searched and officers found a large amount of money on his person. Anthony Skaroupka was found to be in possession of a baggie weighing .5 grams of a crystal-like substance believed to be methamphetamine in his waistband. Both were taken into custody”.

Anthony Skaroupka is charged with possession of methamphetamine and possession of drug paraphernalia. His bond totals $55,000 and he will be in court October 3.

According to the warrants against Anthony Skaroupka, “While conducting a search warrant on the home of Skaroupka on September 19, miscellaneous drug paraphernalia were found in his bedroom which included waterbongs, used syringes and many small plastic baggies, and a weed grinder. And while being detained by officers of the Smithville Police Department and DeKalb County Sheriff’s Department, a search of Skaroupka’s person was conducted and a small container was found in Skaroupka’s waistband. Inside the container was approximately 0.5 grams of methamphetamine”.

Jason Skaroupka is charged with sale and delivery of a schedule II drug (2 counts), possession of drug paraphernalia and possession of a weapon by a felon. His bond totals $115,000 and he wili make a court appearance on October 3.

The warrants against Jason Skaroupka allege that “On August 15 and September 19 he sold methamphetamine to a confidential informant working with the Smithville Police Department in an undercover capacity. While conducting a search warrant on the home of Skaroupka on September 19, miscellaneous drug paraphernalia were found in his bedroom which included waterbongs, used syringes and many small plastic baggies, and a weed grinder. A handgun was also found in his bedroom”.

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