Melton Charged with Theft

The DeKalb County Sheriff's Department has charged 18 year old Travis Mark Melton of Johnson's Chapel Road, Sparta with theft of property over $1,000

Sheriff Patrick Ray said Melton, on or about November 23rd, allegedly took from a residence on the Old Sparta Highway without the owner's consent, a dirt tamper, a gas engine, spot welder, air compressor, and tractor weights all valued at over $1,000. Melton was arrested on November 29th. His bond is $5,000 and he will be in court December 16th.

Meanwhile, 56 year old Darrell Wayne Malcolm of Kendra Drive, Smithville is charged with a first offense of driving under the influence. His bond is $1,500 and he will be in court December 16th.

According to Sheriff Ray, On November 30th, a deputy responded to a one car accident on the Old Mill Hill Road. Upon arrival and speaking with the driver, Malcolm, the deputy noticed a strong odor of an alcoholic beverage on his person. Malcolm was unsteady on his feet. He was asked to submit to several field sobriety tasks, which he performed poorly. Malcolm admitted to drinking one quart of beer. He also refused to submit to a blood alcohol test. Malcolm was issued a citation for violation of the implied consent law, for refusing to give blood.

Local Teenager Dies from Injuries in Car Crash

A 16 year old Lebanon boy, formerly of Smithville, died Sunday at Vanderbilt University Medical Center from injuries in a car crash Friday morning on U.S. Highway 231 near the Wilson County line in Rutherford County.

Dead is Dylan Petty.

According to reports, 18 year old Joshua Orcutt of Smithville was traveling southbound toward Murfreesboro around 8:15 a.m. Friday when his Chrysler Sebring crossed the center line, went off the highway, and rolled down a 24 foot embankment. The vehicle overturned and came to rest in a cluster of cedar trees.

Orcutt was taken by ambulance to Vanderbilt Medical Center. Petty, a passenger, was thrown from the vehicle and later airlifted by LifeFlight helicopter to the Trauma Center at Vanderbilt, where he later died. Orcutt has reportedly been discharged from the hospital.

The highway was closed to traffic for about an hour and a half to allow troopers to complete their crash investigation and for the clean-up crews to remove the debris and make the roadway safe

Petty's body is at DeKalb Funeral Chapel.