Four Involved in Head-On Crash

Four people were involved in a head-on collision around 1:00 p.m. Monday afternoon on Man Hill Road. Two of them were injured and taken to the hospital.

Trooper Dewaine Jennings of the Tennessee Highway Patrol says 19 year old Jessica LeAnne Johnson of 1137 Man Hill Road, Dowelltown was traveling west in a 1995 Toyota Corolla as 21 year old Adam Lee Tramel of 642 Possum Hollow Road, Dowelltown was going east in a 1989 Jeep Cherokee.

According to Trooper Jennings, the vehicles hit head-on in a curve on the narrow road while trying to negotiate a curve.

Johnson was transported by a private vehicle to the emergency room of DeKalb Community Hospital. Her passenger, 18 year old Tylor Alexander Ahumada of Miller Road, Smithville was not injured.

Tramel was also uninjured but his wife, 19 year old Marissa Ashley Tramel, a passenger of the Jeep Cherokee, was taken by DeKalb EMS to the hospital.

The Tramels and Ahumada were issued citations for not wearing their seatbelts and Johnson was cited for violation of the financial responsibility law (no insurance).

Sheriff's Department Makes Two Arrests in "Shake and Bake" Meth Lab Operation

Two people allegedly conducting a shake and bake meth lab were arrested during a traffic stop
on Coconut Ridge Road last Thursday, October 7th.

Sheriff Patrick Ray says 43 year old Robert Ernest Rochefort of Doe Lane, Smithville and 39 year old Sandra Lee Clark of Backbone Ridge Road, are each charged with initiation of a process intended to result in the manufacture of methamphetamine.

Clark is also charged with tampering with evidence, simple possession of a schedule VI controlled substance (marijuana), possession of drug paraphernalia, and unlawful carrying or possession of a prohibited weapon.

Rochefort is under a $25,000 bond. The bond for Clark is $32,500. Both will appear in General Sessions Court on November 4th.

Sheriff Ray says a deputy was on routine patrol on Coconut Ridge Road when he saw a vehicle stopped in the road. When the officer stopped, the vehicle began to leave. The deputy then activated his lights signaling the vehicle to stop. After making the traffic stop the officer spoke with the driver, Clark and the passenger, Rochefort and they appeared to be nervous. The deputy received consent to search but when Rochefort, the passenger, got out of the automobile, the officer saw him place something on the ground. There, the deputy found a two liter bottle with a three layered substance which is normally used in the manufacture of methamphetamine. Rochefort emptied his pockets and produced a two liter Pepsi label. A plastic bag was found inside the vehicle. The bag contained 30 pseudoephedrine pills and four lithium batteries, which are also normally used in the manufacture of meth. Several other items used to make meth were also in the vehicle, including turkey basters, Ph test strips, coffee filters with residue, salt, water, and more.

According to Sheriff Ray, as a background check for warrants against Rochefort and Clark was being conducted, the deputy saw Clark pick up a mason jar from the back seat of the car and empty the contents on the ground. The contents were found to be lighter fluid, which is commonly used to manufacture methamphetamine.

During the search, the officer found in her purse a switchblade knife and a container which held rolling papers and a green leafy substance believed to be marijuana A glass pipe with residue was confiscated from her makeup bag which was in the floor board on the driver side.

34 year old Jimmy Allen Atnip, II of Gene Vaughn Road, Smithville was charged on Wednesday, October 6th with simple possession of a schedule VI controlled substance and unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia. His bond is $2,500 and he will be in court November 4th.

Sheriff Ray says a deputy, while on routine patrol, stopped to check a vehicle he saw parked on the side of the road on Students Home Road, Two people were inside. As he approached the automobile, the officer noticed an odor of alcohol coming from inside. Both persons admitted to drinking beer and the passenger was in the process of drinking a tall boy.

The deputy conducted a pat down search of Atnip and felt an object with the texture of marijuana in his front right pocket. When the deputy asked to see what it was, Atnip pulled out two plastic bags that contained a green leafy substance believed to be marijuana. Also found in Atnip's left pocket was a pipe containing marijuana residue.

25 year old Johnna Maynard of Banks Pisgah Road, Smithville was charged on Wednesday, October 6th with possession of a schedule III controlled substance and unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia. Her bond is $2,500 and she will appear in court on November 4th.

According to Sheriff Ray, probation officers spoke with Maynard while conducting a home visit in the parking lot of City Walk Apartments. They found in her pants pocket, a cellophane cigarette wrapper with 20 white pills believed to be Hydrocodone and a hypodermic needle containing residue.

24 year old Antonio Cezar Wilford of Bell Street, Smithville is charged with unlawful carrying or possession of a weapon by a felon and alteration of items, permanent distinguishing number, and possession of such items.

Sheriff Ray says a deputy accompanied a probation officer on a Bell Street home visit to check on a woman and during a search of the bedroom, the officers found a gun in a dresser drawer, which Wilford said belonged to him. The gun, which was actually stolen, had been defaced. The serial number had been scratched off. Wilford, a felon, was convicted of aggravated assault by a jury on January 12th, 2005.

26 year old Jeffrey Edward Dawes of Miller Road was charged on Thursday, October 7th with unlawful possession of a schedule II controlled substance (methamphetamine). His bond is $2,500 and he will be in court on November 4th.

A deputy saw Dawes in the parking lot of Royal Oak Apartments and having knowledge of a warrant against him, the officer stopped and placed Dawes under arrest. The deputy checked Dawes' jacket pocket and found a small plastic bag containing a yellowish powder substance believed to be methamphetamine.

30 year old Christopher John Saye of Payton Lane, Smithville was charged on Friday October 8th with a second offense of driving under the influence, unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia, a first offense of driving on a revoked license, simple possession of a schedule VI controlled substance (marijuana), violation of probation, and he was issued a citation for violation of the implied consent law. His bond totals $7,000.

Sheriff Ray says a deputy was called to check out a possible intoxicated driver turning onto Highway 70 west from New Home Road. The deputy saw the vehicle turn into the parking lot of DeKalb Market and stop at the gas pumps. When the driver, Saye, got out the vehicle, the officer noticed that he was very unsteady on his feet. Saye had a strong odor of an alcoholic beverage on his person. He submitted to several field sobriety tasks and performed poorly. He refused to submit to a blood alcohol test.

When the deputy asked to see his drivers license, Saye produced only an identification card. A computer check revealed that his license were revoked for driving under the influence. Saye was arrested for his first DUI offense on November 15th, 2006 in Smith County and he was convicted on February 1st, 2007.

During the investigation, the officer saw a marijuana roach in the ashtray of the vehicle and during a search incident to arrest, he also found in the left front pocket of Saye's pants, a plastic bag containing a green leafy substance believed to be marijuana. The search also yielded a pack of rolling papers.

In addition, Saye had a warrant against him for a violation of probation.

Meanwhile a front seat passenger in the vehicle with Saye, 34 year old Carlos Gonzalez of Hartsville is charged with simple possession of a schedule VI controlled substance (marijuana) and unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia. He is under a $3,000 bond and his court date is October 28th.

During a search of Saye's vehicle, the deputy found a plastic bag in the glove compartment containing a green leafy substance believed to be marijuana. And on the passenger side floor board where Gonzalez was sitting, the officer found a pack of rolling papers.

38 year old Rachel Lynn Mabe of Huddleston Loop, Smithville was charged on Saturday, October 9th with possession of a schedule IV controlled substance (Xanax). She is under a $2,500 bond and her court date is October 21st.

Sheriff Ray says a deputy was called to check out a complaint of a reckless driver on Big Woods Road and he got behind the vehicle on Highway 70 east. The deputy made a traffic stop for having the wrong plates on the vehicle.

The driver, Mabe, gave the officer consent to search and he found in her pocketbook, nine pills wrapped in cellophane, believed to be Xanax. She did not have a prescription for the pills.

24 year old John Lewis Wilson of Hutchings College Road, Sparta is charged with theft of property.

On July 18th at Cookeville Boat Dock, Wilson allegedly took two pairs of sunglasses and a black ball hat, all valued at less than $500 without the owners consent.

Sheriff Ray says "we received a report on July 18th from Cookeville Boat Dock of sunglasses and a ball hat being stolen by a boater. The boater was with some other people and took off. After an investigation, Wilson was arrested on Monday, October 11th.

Wilson is under a $1,500 bond and his court date is October 28th.

29 year old Marie Biddle of Bethel Road, Smithville is charged with aggravated burglary, theft of property over $500, violation of probation, and failure to appear. She is under a $15,000 bond on the burglary and theft charges and she is being held without bond on the violation of probation and failure to appear. Her court date is set for October 21st.

Sheriff Ray says Biddle allegedly entered a residence on Jefferson Road July 27th with intent to commit a felony and took from the home, a heater, double tree, chainsaw, weedeater, and an ax all valued at over $500.