January 18, 2018
By: Dwayne Page
A couple trying to elude authorities in White County and later arrested in Smithville early Saturday morning after wrecking their car and fleeing the scene on foot have now been charged in the case.
According to officials of the White County Sheriff’s Department, Charles Robert Wilmoth and Amber Madison Rhea both of White County are each charged with evading arrest, possession of schedule II drugs, and possession of drug paraphernalia.
Wilmoth also has warrants against him for two counts of violation of probation, evading arrest in a motor vehicle and reckless endangerment.
Wilmoth and Rhea were in a 2005 red Dodge Neon when they crossed into DeKalb County from White County, trying to elude officers of the White County Sheriff’s Department, who were looking to serve warrants on Wilmoth for a violation of probation. After White County officers terminated their pursuit, local law enforcement were advised to be on the lookout for the car at 1:56 a.m. and Smithville Police found it abandoned at the intersection of South Mountain and Hayes Street at 2:10 a.m. The car had knocked over a stop sign and the occupants of the vehicle had fled on foot.
Members of the Smithville Police Department, DeKalb County Sheriff’s Department, and White County officers converged on the scene and began looking for the couple. They were found in the area shortly thereafter, taken into custody, and transported back to White County.
The White County Sheriff’s Department has released the following statement about the incident.
“Sergeant Justin Cunningham attempted to initiate a traffic stop on a red Dodge Neon in White County in the area of Highway 111. The vehicle was occupied by Charles Wilmoth and Amber Rhea. Sergeant Cunningham had prior knowledge that Wilmoth had outstanding warrants out of White County. They refused to stop. A pursuit ensued that ended up at the DeKalb County line. Due to the treacherous road conditions, for officers’ safety and the public’s safety White County terminated the pursuit and a short while afterwards it was discovered that fled the vehicle in DeKalb County. They were both found hiding under a boat and were apprehended”.