July 30, 2024
By: Dwayne Page
A Liberty man was arrested last week after he was spotted driving a stolen vehicle.
34-year-old Dustin Kane Underhill of Tubb Street, Liberty is charged with theft of property. He is under a $50,000 bond and his court date is August 15.
Chief Deputy Brian Williams of the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Department said that on July 25 Underhill allegedly stole a 2016 Ford F150 4×4 valued at $37,000 from a driveway on Groom Street, Liberty. Criminal investigators spotted the stolen vehicle traveling on North Congress Boulevard in Smithville and pulled it over. Underhill, the driver, was placed in custody.
Meanwhile another man charged with stealing two batteries and a passing a forged check will be in court August 7.
27-year-old Tyler Michael Boyer of Whorton Springs Road, Smithville is under a total bond of $5,500 on charges of forgery and theft of property.
Chief Deputy Williams said that on July 23 Boyer was found in possession of two Dewalt 20-volt batteries with the initials LWB engraved on the bottom belonging to the victim. The batteries were valued at $102. 50. Two days later on July 25, Boyer allegedly committed forgery by writing and cashing a check in the amount of $705. The case was investigated by sheriff’s department detectives.
45-year-old Marcelo Cruz Gomez of Page Drive, Smithville is charged with two counts of aggravated assault and driving on a revoked /suspended license. His total bond is $32,000 and he will make a court appearance on August 15.
Chief Deputy Williams said that on July 25 Gomez pulled a Jennings 9-millimeter gun and placed it to the back left side of the victim’s head causing him to fear imminent bodily injury. Another victim, a woman also feared for her life.
20-year-old Bryan Scott Woodard of McMinnville is charged with driving without a license, possession of a handgun while under the influence, and underage driving while impaired. His bond is $7,500 and he will be in court August 15.
Chief Deputy Williams said that on July 25 a deputy was traveling west on Midway Road when he spotted a black Chevy Camaro leave its lane of travel several times. The officer pulled over the vehicle and spoke with the driver, Woodard who smelled of alcohol and had red, watery eyes, slurred speech, and he was unsteady on his feet. Woodard admitted to having consumed alcoholic beverages and smoking marijuana prior to driving. He refused to submit to field sobriety tasks. The deputy also spotted in plain sight a Rohm RG10 22 caliber revolver on the front seat.
58-year-old Edward Dale Caldwell of Cookeville Highway is charged with driving on a revoked/suspended license. He is under a $1,500 bond and his court date is August 15.
Chief Deputy Williams said that on July 27 a deputy was traveling Cookeville Highway when a red Chevy Silverado swerved into his lane of travel near Poplar Street almost causing a crash. The officer pulled over the vehicle and spoke with the driver, Caldwell who said he was turning into the parking lot of Glassworks and did not see the patrol car. A background check revealed that Caldwell’s driver license was revoked due to a DUI.
41-year-old Carlos Edward Lopez Stiff of Nashville Highway, Dowelltown is charged with aggravated assault. His bond is $15,000 and he will make a court appearance on August 8. Chief Deputy Williams said that on July 27 Stiff allegedly struck his wife in the face causing injury. He also allegedly tried to strangle her.
32-year-old Hope Leigh Lachenauer of East Bryant Street, Smithville is charged with aggravated assault. She is under a $6,500 bond and her court date is August 8. Chief Deputy Williams said that on July 27 Lachenauer allegedly hit a family member in the head with a metal water can causing injury during an argument.