November 15, 2021
By: Dwayne Page
A Liberty man was arrested last week in a burglary and theft investigation.
60 year old James Rick Ashford, Sr. is charged with aggravated burglary and theft of property. His bond totals $6,500 and he will be in court December 2.
Sheriff Patrick Ray said that on November 10 Ashford entered a residence on Big Woods Road without permission and stole a phone from the kitchen.
“A deputy was called to a residence on Big Woods Road due to a report of stolen property. The victim said that Ashford came to the home and entered through the back door without permission. Once inside, Ashford started screaming and approached the victim in an aggressive manner before witnesses intervened. After Ashford left the victim noticed a phone missing from the kitchen. Ashford was later arrested and he admitted to having the phone. Blood evidence was collected at the back door of the residence where Ashford entered. The value of the phone is $400,” said Sheriff Ray.
44 year old Harry Carlson McIntosh of Old Bildad Road, Smithville is charged with violation of bond conditions. His bond is $2,500 and he will be in court December 2.
Sheriff Ray said that on November 11 a deputy was dispatched to a residence on Old Bildad Road to conduct a welfare check on a woman. Upon arrival he spoke with the woman who said she was okay. Knowing there had been prior complaints of domestic violence there, the officer asked if anyone else was present and the woman replied “no”. The deputy was then granted permission to conduct a walk thru of the home and found McIntosh hiding behind a couch. A background computer check through central dispatch confirmed that McIntosh was under active bond conditions to have no contact with this woman.
37 year old Joshua Walter Hodges of Old Post Road, McMinnville is charged with being a fugitive from justice. His bond is $50,000 and he will make a court appearance December 2.
Sheriff Ray said that on November 10 while being incarcerated at the sheriff’s department, Hodges was found to have an active warrant for his arrest from the state of Alabama with a nationwide extradition confirmed.
53 year old Timothy Scott Bruner of Sparta is charged with driving under the influence. His bond is $1,500 and he will make a court appearance December 2.
Sheriff Ray said that on November 8 after being informed that Bruner might be driving drunk, a sheriff’s department detective spotted Bruner driving a black Ford F150 on South Congress Boulevard and noticed him cross the white line on the right side of the roadway. The registration on Bruner’s truck was also expired. The detective conducted a traffic stop and spoke with Bruner whose speech was slow and slurred and his eyes were glassy and watery. Open containers of beer were visible in the truck. Bruner refused to submit to standardized field sobriety tasks and implied consent.
36 year old Nicholas Cody Walls of Coconut Ridge Road, Smithville is charged with violation of an order of protection. His bond is $2,500 and he will be in court December 2.
Sheriff Ray said that on November 8 a deputy was dispatched to a residence on Coconut Ridge Road due to a domestic dispute between a mother and son. Upon arrival the officer learned that the incident grew out of a verbal argument but he further discovered through central dispatch that an active full order of protection was in place against Walls for him to keep away from his mother.
42 year old Russell Shannon Estes of Short Mountain Highway, Smithville is charged with aggravated assault. His bond is $5,000 and he will make a court appearance December 2.
Sheriff Ray said that on November 9 a deputy received a report from Estes’ girlfriend who said that on November 7 she and Estes got into an argument which led to him trying to strangle her resulting in bruises to her neck and throat.