September 6, 2024
By: Dwayne Page
Smithville Police arrested a man last week for aggravated assault after he allegedly followed and harassed three other people and then fired a pellet or airsoft gun causing an injury to one of them.
32-year-old Nathaniel Tippens of New Market, Tennessee is charged with aggravated assault. According to Chief Collins, police were dispatched to Wade Street on August 29 due to a report of an assault. Upon arrival officers spoke with three people who claimed that Tippens had been following and harassing them. They reported that Tippens had spun tires and tried to hit them with his vehicle forcing them to move out of the way. Even after they left the scene, Tippens allegedly followed and as they stopped and got out of their vehicle, Tippens pulled up and started shooting a pellet or airsoft gun hitting at least one person causing minor injuries. One shot went through a vehicle window. By the time police arrived at this location, Tippens had already left but he was found and taken into custody the following day. His bond was set at $10,000.
68-year-old Edward James of Liberty is charged with driving under the influence and cited for driving on roadways laned for traffic.
Chief Collins said that on August 31 an officer pulled over a vehicle on West Broad Street for failing to maintain its lane of travel and spoke with the driver, James who smelled of alcohol and his speech was slurred. James told the officer that he had just consumed a couple of alcoholic beverages. He submitted to but performed poorly on field sobriety tasks. Bond for James is $2,500 and his court date is September 19.
43-year-old William Tarpley of Gordonsville is charged with public intoxication. Chief Collins said that on August 31 police were summoned to the hospital where a man was reported to be trying to get into vehicles. Upon arrival the officer confronted the suspect, Tarpley and noticed that his speech was slurred and that he was unsteady on his feet. Police learned that Tarpley had been treated and discharged at the emergency room. No vehicles had actually been broken into but Tarpley was placed in custody for public intoxication. His bond is $1,500 and he will be in court September 19.
58-year-old Marty Tallent of Smithville is charged with criminal trespassing and indecent exposure. Chief Collins said that on August 27, police were called to a business on West Broad Street due to an unwanted person who had previously been trespassed from the property. Upon arrival the officer found that the suspect, Tallent had undone his pants and exposed himself in view of the public. He was placed in custody. Bond for Tallent is $5,000 and his court date is September 12.
44-year-old Andrew Bond of McMinnville is charged with disorderly conduct and assault on a first responder. Chief Collins said that on August 23 police were summoned to the emergency room of the hospital to assist with a crisis patient. There they found Bond acting in a violent and hostile manner toward hospital staff. Although they tried talking to Bond he attempted to assault the officers several times. Bond was taken into custody. His bond was set at $10,000 and he will be in court September 12.
64-year-old Brian Guertin of Smithville is charged with driving under the influence. Chief Collins said that on August 21 an officer pulled over a vehicle on West Broad Street due to a possible DUI and noticed that the driver, Guertin smelled of alcohol. Guertin said he had consumed several alcoholic beverages earlier. He submitted to but performed poorly on field sobriety tasks. Bond for Guertin is $2,500.
34-year-old Jonathan Wann of Smithville is charged with trespassing and vandalism. Chief Collins said that on August 17 police responded to a disturbance call at a residence on Gentry Avenue. Upon arrival officers found Wann beating on the front door of his neighbor’s home, refusing to leave. The homeowner said he didn’t want Wann on his property. Police advised Wann to leave and keep away. Although Wann left the property, he returned a short time later and began beating on the same neighbor’s back door with a wooden stick damaging the door screen. Police were called back to the scene and they placed Wann under arrest. His bond was set at $4,000.
42-year-old Sergio Benitez is charged with driving under the influence and cited for driving on roadways laned for traffic. Chief Collins said that on August 18 an officer pulled over a vehicle on Bright Hill Road for failure to maintain its lane of traffic. The officer noticed that the driver, Benitez smelled of alcohol. Benitez told the officer that he had just left the Gentlemen’s Club where he had consumed several beers. He submitted to but performed poorly on field sobriety tasks. Bond for Benitez is $2,000.