March 28, 2022
By: Dwayne Page
A prisoner at the DeKalb County jail was seriously injured earlier this month after being assaulted by two other inmates while incarcerated.
Sheriff Patrick Ray said the two inmates accused in the attack, 44-year-old Jermaine Derperise McCoy of Smith Road, Smithville and 40-year-old Garth Layne Cantrell of Young Ridge Road, Sparta will make a court appearance in the case April 14.
McCoy is charged with aggravated assault and Cantrell’s charge is for assault. Bond is $15,000 for McCoy and $5,000 for Cantrell. The incident occurred at the jail on March 4.
According to Sheriff Ray both McCoy and Cantrell assaulted another inmate during a fight at the jail by kicking him repeatedly. The kicks to the head by McCoy resulted in serious bodily injury to the prisoner who was transported to Vanderbilt Hospital where he had to undergo surgery. The name of the injured prisoner was not released.
33-year-old Michael Darin Caldwell, Jr. of Frazier Street, Smithville is charged with possession of methamphetamine with intent to manufacture, sell or deliver. His bond is $50,000 and he will make a court appearance April 7.
Sheriff Ray said that on March 23 a deputy conducted a traffic stop on a blue Nissan Frontier on Big Rock Road due to a registration violation. The officer asked the driver, Caldwell to step out of the truck and he complied. When asked by the officer if there was anything in the vehicle he needed to know about, Caldwell admitted to having methamphetamine in a container under the driver’s seat. Caldwell also admitted to having sold meth. After obtaining permission to search, the deputy confiscated the container which held a crystal-like substance believed to be methamphetamine. It weighed 16 grams.
31-year-old Joshua Dale Tidwell of Lebanon is charged with public intoxication. He is under a $1,500 bond and his court date is April 14.
Sheriff Ray said that on March 25 a deputy was patrolling Nashville Highway when he spotted a man standing on the white line of the roadway. The officer stopped and spoke with the man, Tidwell who admitted to being under the influence of methamphetamine and hallucinating. Tidwell was then placed under arrest.
41-year-old Mark Denver Young of Barnes Mill Road, Smithville is charged with violation of a protection order. Young’s bond is $3,500 and his court date is April 7.
Sheriff Ray said that on March 26 Young was found in possession of a Phoenix Arms 22 caliber pistol. Under the protection order, Young is prohibited from being in possession of a firearm.
36-year-old Amy Lynett Knowles of Cedar Street, Liberty is charged with public intoxication. Her bond is $1,500 and she will be in court April 14.
Sheriff Ray said that on March 27 a deputy was summoned to McMinnville Highway after several people spotted a woman walking in the roadway. Upon arrival the officer spotted the woman, Knowles walking on the edge of McMinnville Highway near Webb Lane. He stopped and confronted the woman who had a strong odor of alcohol coming from her person and she was unsteady on her feet. When asked, Knowles admitted to having consumed alcohol that night. She was then placed under arrest.