Smithville Police Make Arrests for Variety of May and June Offenses
by: Dwayne PageJul 02, 2025
The Smithville Police Department has made arrests in recent weeks for offenses ranging from child abuse to domestic assault, DUI, public intoxication, and resisting arrests, among others.
36-year-old Joann Hargrave of Smithville is charged with child abuse. Chief Mark Collins reported that on June 1, police were summoned to Foster Road on a child abuse complaint. Upon arrival, they found physical evidence of an assault and injury to a juvenile. Responding officers requested a response from Smithville Police Department detectives. After a preliminary investigation, Hargrave was placed in custody. Bond was set at $5,000.
62-year-old Frank Reynolds of Smithville is charged with violation of bond conditions. Chief Collins said that on May 30 police responded to Estes Street in reference to a domestic complaint. Upon arrival they determined that the domestic was only verbal in nature but that Reynolds, one of the parties involved, was under bond conditions at that time and was prohibited from being near the other person there. Reynolds was placed in custody. His bond was set at $5,000.
24-year-old Hector Urbina-Acuna of Smithville is charged with domestic assault. According to Chief Collins, officers were called to Adams Street due to a domestic complaint on May 30. Upon arrival, they spoke with the parties involved, found physical evidence of an assault, and determined that Urbina-Acuna was the primary aggressor. He was placed in custody. Bond was set at $2,500.
28-year-old Ronald Gutierrez of Smithville is charged with public intoxication, evading arrest, and resisting arrest. Chief Collins said that on June 4 police responded to a single car accident on Miller Road. Upon arrival officers were told by Gutierrez that the vehicle belonged to his girlfriend and that she left with the keys. Police instructed Gutierrez to take them to where she was and he walked with them to Royal Oak Apartments before fleeing on foot. When the officers caught up with Gutierrez, he resisted arrest and tried several times to pull away. According to police, Gutierrez showed signs of impairment. His bond is $10,500.
41-year-old Steven Bly is charged with public intoxication and resisting arrest. Chief Collins said that on June 11 officers were sent to Miller Road on an unwanted guest call. Upon arrival they spoke with the complainant who reported having problems with Bly due to his state of intoxication. When police confronted Bly, he resisted arrest and refused to comply with the officers’ commands. He was subsequently taken into custody. Bond was set at $4,000.
43-year-old Bobby Haney of Smithville is charged with aggravated domestic assault and violation of bond conditions. According to Chief Collins, police responded to Anthony Avenue on June 11 due to a domestic incident in progress. Upon arrival they spoke with the victim who reported that Haney had assaulted and tried to choke her. Officers found physical evidence of an assault and learned that Haney was in violation of bond conditions from a previous assault. His bond was set at $11,000.
28-year-old Hugo Vazquez Villareal of Smithville is charged with DUI, driving on a revoked license, failing to give immediate notice of an accident, and he was cited for financial responsibility and implied consent. Chief Collins reported that on June 14 police were summoned to Smith Road due to a hit and run accident. Upon arrival officers spoke with the parties involved including Villareal who showed signs of impairment. Villareal refused to submit to sobriety tasks due to the language barrier. Police confirmed that his driver license was revoked.Villareal was placed in custody and his bond was set at $10,000.
47-year-old Shellie Cook of Mount Juliet is charged with DUI and cited for due care. Chief Collins said that on June 14 an officer was patrolling Broad Street when a vehicle pulled out in front of him nearly causing an accident. The officer pulled over the automobile and spoke with the driver, Cook. She showed signs of impairment. Cook informed the officer that she had consumed alcohol. She submitted to but performed poorly on field sobriety tasks. Cook was placed in custody and her bond was set at $2,500.
34-year-old Rebecca Young of Smithville is charged with emergency call interference. According to Chief Collins, police were called to Earl Avenue in reference to a domestic violence call. Upon arrival, officers spoke with the parties involved including family member who reported that she had tried to call 911 when Young unplugged the cord and grabbed the phone preventing her from calling for help. Young was placed in custody. Her bond is $1,500 and she will be in court July 10.
33-year-old Sonny Smith of Smithville is charged with domestic assault and false imprisonment. Chief Collins said that on June 21 officers responded to Wade Street due to a domestic complaint. Upon arrival they spoke with the parties involved and found physical evidence of an assault. Officers confirmed that the victim tried to leave the residence several times to get help but that Smith physically stopped her and continued his assault on the woman. The victim eventually escaped and called 911 from a neighbor’s house. Bond for Smith is $7,500 and his court date is July 10.
44-year-old David Sullivan of Smithville is charged with public intoxication and disorderly conduct. Chief Collins reported that on June 21 officers were summoned to Kendra Drive due to a structure fire. Upon arrival, officers saw flames and smoke coming from the house. Police also found Sullivan laying in the yard with a bottle of alcohol. While checking on his welfare, Sullivan awoke with obvious signs of impairment, and he started to enter the burning house. Police ordered him several times to stop but he continued trying to go inside the home. Sullivan was then placed in custody. His bond is $2,000 and he will be in court July 10.
37-year-old Charles Riedley of Smithville is charged with resisting arrest. According to Chief Collins, police were called to South Congress Boulevard on June 22 due to a suspicious person. Upon arrival, they confronted Riedley and while speaking with him, found Riedley to be uncooperative and agitated. As they attempted to determine if he was under the influence, Riedley took off on foot. Officers caught up with Riedley and placed him in custody. His bond is $2,500 and he will be in court July 10.
35-year-old Noelia Guzman of Springfield, Missouri is charged with public intoxication and theft of services. Chief Collins said that on June 22 police were summed to Chabelitas Restaurant on East Broad Street due to a disorderly customer. Upon arrival, they found Guzman harassing and threatening staff stating she had no money to pay for the food she had ordered. Guzman showed signs of impairment. She was taken into custody. Her bond is $2,000 and she will be in court July 10.
47-year-old Christinia Kemp of Smithville is charged with public intoxication. Chief Collins said that on June 25 officers were called to South College Street to conduct a welfare check on a woman in the road. Upon arrival, they found Kemp but as they began to speak with her, she became agitated and seemed to be confused. Kemp showed signs of impairment. She was taken into custody. Her bond is $2,000 and she will be in court July 10.
Another resignation!
by: Dwayne PageJul 02, 2025
Another resignation!
Alexandria Alderman Jonathon Tripp has submitted his resignation less than a month after his wife, Beth Tripp stepped down as mayor
During Tuesday night’s special called meeting, the Alexandria Aldermen voted to accept Alderman Tripp’s resignation.
Mayor Jeff Ford read the letter
“Dear Mayor Ford, It has been an experience serving the town council. I find that I will not be able to fulfill the term of office. I am aware the council is to have earlier meetings starting at 5 p.m. which the board already knows is during my work hours and I would not be able to attend. I do not wish to contest the board on when to have meetings nor do I want to hinder any other member which earlier time would be best. I believe it would best serve the council if I officially resign my position as alderman effective June 26, 2025. I want the best for the town and I hope for the town’s success. Sincerely, Jonathon Tripp”.
The current makeup of the Alexandria town council includes Mayor Jeff Ford and Aldermen Bobby Simpson, Luke Prichard, Sherry Tubbs, Debbie Fisher, and David Cripps.
The vacancy has yet to be filled.
Resident Told City Can’t Stop County’s Proposed Jail Project on Smith Road (View Video Here)
by: Dwayne PageJul 01, 2025
A resident of Smith Road, opposed to new jail construction near his property, attended Tuesday night’s meeting of the Smithville Board of Mayor and Aldermen looking for some help from the city. He didn’t get it.
Paul Miranda, during the public comments period, asked the mayor and aldermen to adopt an ordinance to prohibit a correctional facility within one mile of a public or private school anywhere in the city limits or to put the question to the public for a vote apparently in the form of a referendum. This would not apply to facilities lawfully established and operational (current jail location).
“I come here to appeal to the city government to stand up not only in voice but in action to help stop this from occurring and use whatever methods of power available to you limited or otherwise,” said Miranda. “This is not an anti-jail issue. Its that specific location and its proximity to a school, future school and residences. I request an ordinance prohibiting the location of any correctional facility within one mile of a public or private school in the city limits because it would pose safety risks and undermine the educational environment. I know there is a process for this but this is an urgent and time sensitive matter. I have an alternate resolution which is to submit this to the voters prohibiting a correctional facility within one mile of a school,” said Miranda.
City Attorney Vester Parsley said the city cannot legally prohibit the county from building a jail.
“We cannot impose a restriction on the county in building a new jail. There is case law dating back as far as 1956 and a 1985 attorney general’s opinion regarding counties not being subject to restrictions or zonings inside city limits. I also contacted MTAS (Municipal Technical Advisory Service) and their attorneys responded to me the same way,” said Parsley
The mayor and aldermen took no action.
Last week the county commission voted to purchase 71.5 acres of property on Smith Road not to exceed $1.8 million except for closing costs subject to favorable core drilling for the future home of a new jail. The commission also voted to issue a 12-year capital outlay note to buy the property to be repaid from the county’s debt service fund. The commission further voted to issue a 12 year note for new jail construction not to exceed $35 million. Treanor will be the architect of the project although specifics are yet to be determined, as to the number of beds, etc.
The county budget committee is scheduled to meet Tuesday, July 8 at 6 p.m. at the courthouse to recommend to the full county commission a property tax rate to fund the new budget for the 2025-26 fiscal year and the jail project.
Meanwhile, upon a recommendation by the planning commission, the aldermen adopted an ordinance on second and final reading to rezone a parcel of property (0.6 acres) belonging to Josh Hawkins at 885 Foster Road across from Calvary Baptist Church from R-1 (Low Density Residential) to R-2 (High Density Residential). Hawkins wants to build a duplex on the property, part of which is in the county. A public hearing was held prior to second and final reading passage Tuesday night. No one spoke in opposition.
The aldermen further adopted an ordinance on second and final reading, upon the recommendation of the planning commission to rezone a parcel of property (behind Wilson Bank & Trust and Tractor Supply) located on West Main Street from R-1 (Low Density Residential) to C-1 (General Commercial) at the request of owner Mark Hart who wants to build a salon for his daughter. While land around the Hart location is currently zoned R-1, city officials said the property across the street is all zoned C-1. A public hearing was held prior to second and final reading passage Tuesday night.
Although he does not oppose this particular land use, Steve Cantrell said during the public hearing that in the future the city should consider when approving a zoning change making it contingent on future uses being the same or similar.
“Right now this individual wants to change the property from residential to commercial between two houses. He is going to build a beauty salon for his daughter which I have no issue with. But using his property as an example the city when approving them should make zoning changes contingent that the individual uses that property only for what the zoning change was made for. In theory after the zoning change is made and someone else inherits that property and its commercial then they could put there what they wanted that’s commercial,” said Cantrell.
First reading approval was given to Ordinance number 536 rezoning property of Holmes Creek Rd from R-1 to R-2 owned by the Hollingheads Land, LLC upon the recommendation of the planning commission Second reading action will follow a public hearing at the next meeting in August.
A public hearing was held on the proposed annexation of 640 East Broad Street at the request of the property owner Lou Ann White. No one spoke in opposition.