April 18, 2023
By: Dwayne Page
An Alexandria man has been charged with two counts of child abuse and neglect among other offenses after he was found passed out with pills in his vehicle at Wal-Mart. Two children were in the automobile with him
29-year-old Alex Wayne Murphy was arrested on March 13 for driving under the influence, driving on a suspended license, simple drug and paraphernalia possession, and two counts of child abuse and neglect. He is under a $30,000 bond.
Chief Mark Collins said police were dispatched to Wal-Mart after a man was reported to be passed out in his vehicle. Upon arrival, an officer found the man, Murphy slumped over in the driver’s seat holding a handful of white pills, identified as Xanax. There were two children in the vehicle with him. One of the kids had no shirt or shoes and was in the front seat shivering. The other child was in the backseat half buckled in a car seat that was not connected to the vehicle. The engine was turned off and the doors were locked.
After gaining access to the inside of the vehicle, the officer removed the children and made sure they had proper care. Murphy was then awakened. According to Chief Collins, Murphy’s speech was slurred, and he was unsteady on his feet. Murphy submitted to but performed poorly on field sobriety tasks.
Murphy was taken into custody for DUI and a search was conducted of his person during which two cut straws with white residue were found along with a broken spoon with white residue and char on the bottom. A Wal-Mart receipt was also retrieved indicating that Murphy had bought some items at 5:38 pm almost two hours before the officer arrived on the scene at 7:24 pm. While conducting a driver license check with Central Dispatch, police learned that Murphy’s license was suspended.
A Dowelltown man accused of committing two burglaries including one at Smithville Elementary School last month is facing several charges.
40-year-old Bradley Shane Redmon was arrested on March 22 charged with two counts of burglary, two counts of property theft, and two counts of vandalism. His bond totals $41,000.
Chief Collins said Smithville Police took a report on March 12 in reference to someone having broken into the car wash maintenance room at 406 E. Broad Street and damaging the wash control panel and coin changer. A large sum of money was taken along with the hard drive to the security system.
Police then learned on March 21 that someone had broken into Smithville Elementary School at approximately 2:30 am and burglarized a vending machine and drink machine, taking a large sum of money. Damage to the vending and drink machines rendered them unusable.
During the investigation, Chief Collins said Redmon was identified as the person responsible for both crimes and he was taken into custody without incident.
40-year-old Anthony Charles Skaroupka of South College Street was arrested on March 16 for domestic assault. Chief Collins said police responded to a possible domestic incident and learned that Skaroupka had allegedly threatened to choke his victim and threw items around the room, placing her in fear. At one point, he reportedly placed his hands around the victim’s neck but did not apply pressure or restrict airflow. His bond is $2,500.
40-year-old Jessica French Hale was cited for trespassing on March 25. According to police Hale entered the Dollar Tree at approximately 4:45 pm knowing she had been ordered on October 31 to keep off the property.
44-year-old Rachel Lynn Spurlock of West Broad Street was arrested on March 31 for a second offense of driving under the influence. Chief Collins said police were dispatched to Bridgeway Motel due to a report of a suspicious vehicle and spoke to Spurlock who he learned had gotten into an argument with her boyfriend and had driven to this location. According to the officer Spurlock smelled of alcohol, her eyes were red and watery, and her speech was slurred. As Spurlock stepped out of the vehicle she became unsteady on her feet. She submitted to but performed poorly on field sobriety tasks. Spurlock also consented to the implied consent law (blood test). She was then placed in custody. Her bond is $2,000 and she will make a court appearance on April 20.
38-year-old Matthew Dewayne Griffith of Andrew Street was arrested on April 1 for criminal impersonation and stalking. Chief Collins said police were summoned to a residence where Griffith was allegedly trying to contact his ex-girlfriend by knocking on the door and announcing he was the police. The caller informed police that Griffith had been repeatedly following her from her home to work and knocking on her door trying to get her to talk to him. He would also leave unwanted gifts such as flowers on her front door and car. At one point he left a large banner above her front door with a rose attached to it. Bond for Griffith is $8,500 and his court date is April 20.
38-year-old Wallace Marlon Rackley of West Spring Street was arrested on April 4 for domestic assault. Chief Collins said police responded to a possible domestic incident and learned that during an argument, Rackley had allegedly punched his victim on the right side of her face. The officer noticed a red area and a contusion behind the victim’s ear consistent with a punch. After an investigation, police determined that Rackley was the primary aggressor, and he was taken into custody. Bond for Rackley is $5,000 and his court date is April 20.
69-year-old Michael Zane Ellis of Dearman Street was arrested on April 6 for driving under the influence and he was cited for implied consent. Police were called to 719 South Congress Boulevard where a man was reported to be asleep behind the wheel of his vehicle. Upon arrival, the officer awoke the man, Ellis and found him to be unsteady on his feet and his speech was slurred. Ellis kept falling asleep as the officer was speaking with him. Ellis submitted to but performed poorly on field sobriety tasks. After he refused to submit to a blood test, a search warrant was obtained for a blood draw from him. Bond for Ellis is $2,500 and his court date is April 20.
42-year-old Brandon Lee Ackerman of East Broad Street was cited on April 4 for possession of drug paraphernalia. Chief Collins said as police were assisting TDOC Probation and Parole and during a random search of Ackerson’s home, five plastic baggies with white residue were found along with a grinder with a green leafy residue, a glass pipe/bong with white residue and two plastic straws with residue.
43-year-old Amanda Lynette Davis was arrested on April 13 for public intoxication. Chief Collins said police responded to a possible domestic incident and upon arrival found Davis on the ground yelling. When asked questions, Police said Davis’ answers made no sense, which made them think she was under the influence of Methamphetamine. Davis was determined to be an annoyance to the public because of her continuous yelling. She was taken into custody for her safety and that of the public. Bond for Davis is $2,500 and her court date is April 27.