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Underhill Arrested Twice within Two Days

December 10, 2019
By: Dwayne Page

A Smithville man arrested last Tuesday for aggravated assault was arrested again the following day for violating an order of protection.

50 year old Jimmy Dwight Underhill, Jr. of Rolling Acres Road is under a total bond of $13,500 and he will be in court December 13.

Sheriff Patrick Ray said that on December 3 a deputy responded to a 911 call of a domestic assault at a residence on Rolling Acres Road. Upon arrival he was informed that Underhill, who had been drinking, had become confrontational and assaulted his victim by grabbing the man around the neck and trying to choke him causing several visible abrasions. It was determined that Underhill was the primary aggressor and he was taken into custody.

The following day, Wednesday, December 4, an officer was called back to the residence on Rolling Acres Road due to an unwanted guest and upon arrival learned that Underhill had returned to the home after being released from jail even though he was under active bond conditions to keep away from the victim.

38 year old Gary Hoyt Copley, Jr. of Cookeville is charged with assault. His bond is $3,500 and he will be in court December 19.

Sheriff Ray said that on November 30 Copley, a prisoner at the jail, assaulted another inmate there by hitting him in the head several times. The assault was captured on video surveillance at the jail.

36 year old Joseph Harvey Clark of Emberton Lane, Smithville is charged with domestic assault. His bond is $4,500 and he will be in court December 19.

Sheriff Ray said that on December 8 Clark assaulted a woman by pushing her down and he used a door twice to hit her in the face. They live together at a residence on Patterson Road.

33 year old Jason Alexander Sturdivant of Page Drive, Smithville is charged with fraudulent use of a credit card. His bond is $5,000 and he will make a court appearance December 19.

Sheriff Ray said that on November 20 a detective received a report of a debit card fraud case and spoke with the victim who said that her husband had passed away in September and a card issued to him had been used several times since his death. The victim said she believed Sturdivant had taken the card without permission and used it. An investigation found that Sturdivant was in possession of the card and had used it multiple times. Sturdivant admitted to having used the card at several locations in and outside DeKalb County. The victim said charges on the card totaled $2,339.

40 year old Tara Kay Campbell of Sparta was arrested on a sealed indictment returned by the DeKalb County Grand Jury charging her with six counts of possession of methamphetamine with intent to manufacture, sell, or deliver and four counts of violation of the drug free school zone. Her bond is $75,000.

66 year old Matthew Edwin Riihimaa of Silver Point is charged with violation of an order of protection. He is under a $2,500 bond and his court date is December 19.

Sheriff Ray said that on December 5 A deputy went to Riihimaa’s home on Captains Point Road, Silver Point to serve an order of protection on him which was brought by another person at the same residence. Under the order, Riihimaa was to leave the home but he refused. As a result, he was arrested for violating the order of protection.

26 year old Killian Blake Ellis of New Hope Road, Alexandria is charged with resisting stop, frisk, halt, arrest, or search. His bond is $5,000 and he will be in court January 9.

Sheriff Ray said that on December 6 a deputy encountered Ellis at the courthouse. Knowing that Ellis had active violation of probation warrants against him, the officer ordered Ellis to place his hands behind his back but he refused. Ellis was physically restrained and forcibly placed in custody.

55 year old Lisa Inez Vice of Hayes Street, Smithville is charged with driving under the influence. She was also cited for driving on roadways laned for travel. Her bond is $2,500 and she will be in court December 19.

Sheriff Ray said that on December 7 a deputy stopped a silver Chevrolet Cobalt for failing to maintain lane of travel. While speaking with the driver, Vice, the officer noticed she had a strong odor of alcohol on her and she performed poorly on field sobriety tasks. Vice admitted to having consumed one beer and although she submitted to implied consent a search warrant was obtained for a blood sample from her.

30 year old Collin Lynn Patterson of Dearman Street, Smithville is charged with driving under the influence. He was further cited for driving on roadways laned for travel. His bond is $2,500 and he will be in court December 19.

Sheriff Ray said that on December 8 a deputy received a call about a silver Ford truck failing to maintain lane of travel. The officer spotted the truck on South Congress Boulevard and watched as it crossed the center yellow line and outside white lines. The deputy stopped the truck and spoke with the driver, Patterson who had a strong odor of alcohol on him. His speech was slurred and his eyes were glassy and watery. He performed poorly on field sobriety tasks and although he submitted to implied consent a search warrant was obtained for a blood sample from him.

63 year old Gwendolyn Kay Sanford of Sparta is charged with driving under the influence. Her bond is $2,500 and she will be in court December 19.

Sheriff Ray said that on December 3 a deputy was dispatched to a call of a reckless driver on Sparta Highway. The officer spotted the vehicle on Nikki Lane and it was parked in the roadway. He spoke with the driver, Sanford but she seemed to be confused and unaware of her situation. Her reactions were slow and she seemed to be forgetful. Sanford said she had taken prescription pain medication earlier in the day. Sanford performed poorly on field sobriety tasks and although she submitted to implied consent a search warrant was obtained for a blood sample from her.




Judge Wesley Bray Qualifies for Special Election to Fill David Patterson’s Unexpired Term

December 10, 2019
By: Dwayne Page

The deadline is Thursday, December 12 to get in the race to fill the unexpired term of former Criminal Court Judge David Patterson in the seven county 13th Judicial District which includes Clay, Cumberland, DeKalb, Overton, Putnam, Smith and White counties.

Patterson, a Republican, retired from the bench on June 30 and Cookeville attorney Wesley Bray was appointed by Governor Bill Lee in July to succeed Patterson as judge until a special election in August, 2020. The winner of that election will serve the remaining years of Patterson’s unexpired term which ends on August 31, 2022.

Republican and Democratic primaries will be held on March 3, 2020 in the district to select nominees for the August special election but so far the only candidate to qualify is Bray, who is seeking the GOP nomination.

The Qualifying deadline—Noon December 12

Voter registration deadline—February 3, 2020

Early Voting period—Feb. 12 through February 25, 2020.




Children experience the thrill of holiday giving through Regifting

December 9, 2019
By: Dwayne Page

Children experienced the thrill of holiday giving during Saturday’s 5th annual Regifting Event.

Held at the county complex, kids ages 5 to 11 took advantage of the opportunity to shop for their parents at no cost. The gifts were then wrapped, tagged, and prepared for Christmas giving.

Donations are collected throughout the year for this event so that those who can’t afford to buy gifts can still share in the joy of giving by regifting something from the donations.

“We let kids come in and shop for their parents or caregivers. It’s not income based. It’s for anybody. They shop for free, wrap the presents, and fill out the card,” said Kim Walker, who organizes the annual event.

The children are then asked to prepare a blessing bag to be given to others.

“This year we made blessing bags for the homeless ministry called Compassionate Hands”. The bags included things like a blanket, socks, cup, toothbrush, and a toy. In the past we have done it for emergency foster care, Vanderbilt Children’s Hospital, residents at NHC, and the homeless shelter,” said Walker.

For their good deeds each of the children get to take home a goodie bag.

Walker said the hope is the children take home more than that. “We’re trying to share God’s love with kids to plant a seed so that no matter how old they are they always remember to help somebody else”.

The kids and other volunteers also decorated a quilt square. “After they decorate the quilt squares we put them together and donate the quilt to somebody who needs a blessing in the community,” said Walker.




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