March 15, 2022
By: Dwayne Page
A man who broke into and stole items from a church before driving away in a church van has been arrested after an investigation by Smithville Police.
38-year-old Daniel Ray Wilson of 1100 West Broad Street was arrested on March 2 for four counts of burglary, theft of property, and two counts of joy riding. His bond is $52,500 and he will make a court appearance on March 17.
Smithville Police were dispatched to Outreach Baptist Church on South Congress Boulevard February 23 in reference to a burglary that had occurred there. The officer met with the pastor and was advised that an unknown white male had entered the building through a classroom door on Monday, February 21 and Tuesday, February 22. The suspect then went throughout the building taking several items totaling approximately $2,370. The suspect later identified as Wilson loaded the stolen items in a church van and drove away before returning later with the van but not the stolen goods. One day, Wilson was spotted getting into another van there where it appeared he had been sleeping. On another day Wilson was seen leaving the property on foot. After an investigation by Smithville Police, Wilson was taken into custody and charged in the case.
A man who walked into a local business and threatened to shoot employees there has been arrested for assault.
55-year-old Marty Brent Tallent of 465 West Broad Street is under a $3,500 bond and he will be in court on the charge March 24.
According to Smithville Police, Tallent entered Galaxy Ford on West Broad Street last Thursday, March 10 and threatened to shoot employees. No one was injured. Tallent then left the dealership and went to Pokey’s Tire Shop and attempted to make entry into a vehicle that didn’t belong to him. He was later stopped by officers at A Plus heating and Cooling where he became belligerent and began threatening physical harm to officers. Tallent was placed under arrest and no weapon was found on his person.
26-year-old Kenneth Randolph Stokes III of Texas was arrested on March 1 for evading arrest and cited for reckless driving. His bond is $10,000 and March 31 is his court date. According to Smithville Police, an officer spotted a gold Toyota Camry traveling at a high speed through the parking lot of Village Market with no regard for public safety. He then activated his blue lights on North Congress Boulevard but the driver, Stokes did not stop. Stokes turned east onto Smith Road and continued traveling at approximately 50mph before turning west onto East Broad Street and coming to a stop in the parking lot of Gill’s Automotive. Stokes was then taken into custody without incident. A Glock 9mm handgun was recovered from Stokes’ vehicle and taken into evidence.
Paul Allen Willingham of 107 East Webb Street was cited for simple possession of schedule II & IV drugs on March 2. According to police, Willingham was stopped for failure to use a turn signal at East Bryant Street onto South College and for no tag lights. The arresting officer discovered that Willingham had in his possession, one Oxycodone and four Alprazolam pills for which he had no prescription. His court date is April 22.
38-year-old Sheri Leeann Murphy of 150 New Bildad Road was cited for Theft of Property on March 9. According to Smithville Police, Murphy entered Center Hill Wine & Spirits and tried to steal a bottle of Vodka but a store clerk confronted Murphy and she removed the bottle from her purse and left the store. Murphy’s court date is March 24.
41-year-old Brandon Ryan Haggard of 104 West Woodlawn Street was arrested on March 9 for aggravated assault. Smithville Police received a call about a physical domestic in progress and upon arrival at the scene spoke with the victim who had marks around her neck, up and down her arms, and a knot on her head. The officers discovered that Haggard had hit and grabbed the victim by the hair and threw her to the ground causing her injury. Bond for Haggard is $15,000 and his court date is April 7.
36-year-old Michael Andrew Snyders Jr. of 739 West Main Street was cited for theft of property on March 10. A loss prevention employee at Wal-Mart spotted Snyders putting a padlock in his jacket pocket. When confronted Snyders admitted to the officer that while he had put the padlock in his pocket he felt bad and put it back on the shelf. His court date is April 8.