Smithville Police Make Arrests in Copper Theft Case

Smithville Police have arrested two people for allegedly stealing several hundred pounds of copper from the supply yard of Smithville Electric System on Sunday, February 6th.

Chief Randy Caplinger said 27 year old Matthew Malachi Lawson and 23 year old Virginia Ruth Carrier are each charged with theft of property over $1,000. More arrests are expected in the case.

Detective Matt Holmes said that both Lawson and Carrier are charged with taking several hundred pounds of copper without consent from Smithville Electric Company's supply yard located behind the building in a fenced-in area at 611 East Broad Street.. Some of the copper was taken to a local scrap yard where it was sold. The value of the copper taken is approximately $1,500.

Following an investigation, Detective Holmes, Chief Caplinger, Captain Steven Leffew, Corporal Travis Bryant, and Officer David Phillips went to Lawson's home on Oak Street Wednesday, February 9th where they executed a search warrant.

Upon arrival, Detective Holmes said he knocked on the door and announced that the police were present. After receiving no answer, officers made entry through the front door. Four persons were inside the home. After a search of the premises outside, officers found a burn pile containing left over protective coating for copper and several big pieces of copper which was later positively identified as belonging to Smithville Electric System. Lawson showed up a short time later and was arrested. A van, which was believed to have been used in the felony was seized from the home.

Lawson is scheduled for another hearing in General Sessions Court on April 11th. Carrier's court date is February 17th.

Meanwhile, in other crime news from the Smithville Police Department, Chief Caplinger reports that 28 year old Brandon Ross Bogle of Jefferson Road was arrested by Officer Matt Farmer on Monday, February 7th for violation of bond conditions. According to the warrant, Officer Farmer was at the Department of Children Services assisting a drug screen on Bogle. Mr. Bogle advised Officer Farmer he had a no contact order with his wife who was also present, therefore violating the conditions of the bond that he signed.

25 year old Jose Xalchy Rododrigvir of Fall Creek Road was arrested by Officer David Phillips for public intoxication on Monday, February 7th. According to the warrant, Officer Phillips responded to Kwik N Ezy to check out a complaint about someone who had passed out at one of the tables. Upon arrival Officer Phillips saw a man whose head was on the table. Several attempts were made to wake the man and after several minutes, he got up. He had a strong odor of an alcoholic beverage on his person and he was unsteady on his feet. Officer Phillips tried unsuccessfully to find a ride home for the man. Due to his intoxication and for his safety Mr. Rododrigvir was placed under arrest. His bond is $1,000 and he will be in court on March 10th.

Meanwhile, anyone with information on any offense is asked to please contact the Smithville Police Department at 597-8210 or the Tip Line at 464-6046.

Any information received that will help the Smithville Police solve any criminal offense will be greatly appreciated. All information is confidential

Moore Charged with Theft

35 year old Stephen Jason Moore of Cookeville Highway was arrested by the DeKalb County Sheriff's Department Thursday, February 3rd on four courts of theft of property under $500. His bond is $4,000 and he will be in court on February 24th

Sheriff Patrick Ray said that on four occasions, January 3rd, 5th, 10th, & 11th Moore allegedly stole rebar valued at less than $500 from a business and then took it to a scrap yard where he sold it.

28 year old Elizabeth Ann Chalfant of Hurricane Ridge Road is charged with a first offense of driving under the influence and reckless endangerment. She was also issued a citation for a fourth offense of driving on a suspended license, violation of the implied consent law, possession of drug paraphernalia, and for failure to maintain proper lane of traffic. Her bond totals $5,000 and she will be in court on March 10th.

Sheriff Ray said that a deputy stopped Chalfant's vehicle on Highway 70 west at Dry Creek Road near Dowelltown after receiving a complaint about a possible intoxicated driver. As the officer got behind the vehicle to pull it over, he noticed that the driver failed to maintain her lane of travel, twice crossing the turning lane and going across the dotted lines. After pulling over the automobile, the deputy spoke with Chalfant and noticed that her speech and movements were slow and she had difficulty keeping her eyes open and focused. Chalfant was asked to step out of the vehicle to perform field sobriety tasks. She submitted to the tasks but performed poorly on them as she was very unsteady on her feet. She refused to submit to a blood screen for drugs and alcohol. Also found were five hypodermic needles. A computer check revealed her license to be suspended.

As the deputy placed Chalfant under arrest, he noticed two children in the vehicle. One of them, a five year old boy, was in a backseat car seat, and the other, a six year old girl, was lying down in the front floor. Both were Ms Chalfant's children. She was charged with reckless endangerment for placing the children in danger of serious bodily injury.

25 year old Ruby Gail Webb of Couch Street, McMinnville was issued a citation on February 7th for driving on a revoked license. Her court date is February 24th.

34 year old Jack Mullican, Jr. of Allen Street, Smithville was issued a citation for driving on a suspended license. An officer stopped Mullican having prior knowledge that his license were suspended. A computer check confirmed it. Mullican will be in court on February 23rd.

45 year old Kandy Kay Fish of Old Snow Hill Road, Dowelltown was issued a citation for simple possession of a schedule IV controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia. She will be in court on February 17th.

Sheriff Ray said that a deputy went to a residence on February 13th to serve a warrant. According to the officer, Fish came to the door after snorting pills. The deputy received consent from the home owner to search the residence and he found straws and more pills both chopped up and complete. All evidence was seized.

43 year old Donna Sue Estes of Banks Pisgah Road, Smithville was issued a citation for possession of drug paraphernalia. Estes was taken into custody on an active warrant after a deputy stopped a vehicle in which she was a passenger. When asked if she was carrying anything illegal on her person, Estes pulled two hypodermic needles from the inside of her pants. Her court date is February 24th.

25 year old Cirilo Gomez of Fancer Mill Road, Sparta is charged with a third offense of driving under the influence and a first offense of driving on a revoked license. He was also issued a citation for violation of the implied consent law. He will be in court on March 3rd and his bond is $3,500.

Sheriff Ray said that on February 13th, a deputy responded to Highway 56 south to check out a vehicle on the side of the roadway where a man was slumped over the steering wheel. After the officer awoke him, the man gave his name but said that he did not have any ID or drivers license. The officer noticed a strong odor of alcohol on his person and he had very slurred speech. He was asked to perform several field sobriety tasks. He performed poorly on all tasks. He was very unsteady on his feet and he refused to submit to a blood alcohol test. A computer check confirmed that his license were revoked for DUI on July 3rd, 2004.