Ray Indicted for Aggravated Burglary and Arson

September 22, 2020
By: Dwayne Page

A man accused of setting fire to a cabin on Smith Fork Road near Dowelltown last winter is under indictment for aggravated burglary and aggravated arson.

38 year old Joseph Huff Ray of Belk Road was recently arraigned in criminal court on the charges and his bond is $100,000.

The investigation began after a fire was reported at the cabin on January 12 at 10:27 p.m. The owner was not occupying the cabin at the time having used it as a seasonal residence. The cabin was destroyed in the blaze.

During the investigation, a detective of the Sheriff’s Department learned that sometime prior to the fire Joseph Huff Ray and his girlfriend had apparently broken into and taken up residence in the cabin without the knowledge of the owner.

The detective later learned that Ray and his girlfriend had posted photos of the cabin on their facebook page which were made prior to the fire. There were also facebook photos of a tractor parked near the cabin and a set of antique keys to the cabin. The keys were posted for sale. The photos were shown to the owner of the cabin who identified the property as belonging to him.

The woman with Ray at the time has not been charged with either the burglary or arson of the cabin. TBI assisted in the investigation at the scene.

30 year old Michael Joseph Lee of Old Snow Hill Road, Smithville is charged with aggravated criminal trespassing. His bond is $3,000 and he will be in court October 1. Sheriff Ray said that on September 14 Lee entered a garage without the knowledge of the owner.

41 year old Michael Lloyd Ballinger of Lebanon is charged with two counts of theft over $1,000, burglary, and vandalism. His bond is $40,000 and he will be in court October 1.

Sheriff Ray said that on August 22 Ballinger broke into a 2015 Chevy Equinox at the Long Branch Recreation area on Lancaster Road damaging the front and rear passenger windows and pillar posts on passenger side to gain entry causing over $2,000 in damage. Once inside he stole two bags of assorted clothing, a rose gold purse, An Iphone 11, and a 14 karat gold diamond engagement ring. The total value of the stolen items comes to $2,486.

In a separate case on the same day, Ballinger took a beach bag full of clothing and a cross body purse with miscellaneous credit cards with a total value of $1,050.

67 year old Matthew Edwin Riihimaa of Silver Point is charged with violation of an order of protection. His bond is $3,500 and he will be in court October 8.

Sheriff Ray said that on September 19 Riihimaa was found at a residence on Captain’s Point Road, Silver Point in violation of a court order to keep away from the woman who sought the action. It was the second time since August 30 that Riihimaa had been arrested for violating the order

60 year old Ivan Martel Young of Spencer is charged with criminal impersonation. His bond is $2,500 and he will be in court October 8.

Sheriff Ray said that on September 14 a deputy was dispatched to a residence on Ferrell Road where a man was spotted sleeping in the yard. Upon arrival the officer awoke the man,Young and asked him for identification. He said his name was Steven Young and he gave a date of birth and a social security number. A detective on the scene identified him and a check with central dispatch revealed Young has warrants against him in DeKalb and Van Buren Counties. During a search of his persons officers found proof of identification on him.

September 21, 2020
By: Dwayne Page

The 2020 deer archery-only hunting season opens statewide in Tennessee on Saturday, Sept. 26. The archery-only season dates are the same statewide Sept. 26-Oct. 30 and Nov. 2-6. You can use archery equipment at any time during the statewide deer season that runs through Jan. 3, 2021.

There are ample opportunities for deer hunters in Tennessee looking for public land to hunt. There are more than 100 wildlife management areas and refuges across the state open at various times for hunting. Find area specific regulations at http://www.eregulations.com/tennessee/hunting/. Hunters are reminded that they must possess the appropriate licenses and permits. Specific regulations and license requirements do apply. Private lands are also available for hunting. For hunting on private land, hunters must obtain permission from landowners.

The 2020-21 Tennessee Hunting and Trapping Guide contains all the information for hunters. Guides are available where hunting and fishing licenses are sold and on the TWRA website, www.tnwildlife.org, and the TWRA On the Go app.

The antlerless deer bag limits for the archery-only season are four in Units A-D and three per day in Unit L and Unit CWD. The antlered deer bag limit is a total of two for the entire 2020-21 deer seasons. In Unit CWD, the statewide limit may be exceeded if taken under the Earn-A-Buck Program or taken under the Replacement Buck Program. Unit CWD consists of the counties of Chester, Crockett, Fayette, Gibson, Hardeman, Haywood, Lauderdale, Madison, McNairy, Shelby, and Tipton.

September 21, 2020
By: Dwayne Page

A Sparta man was airlifted around midnight Friday after his car struck and killed a horse in the roadway and then plunged off an embankment on Highway 70 east near Ollie Billings Road.

According to Trooper Jonathan Burke of the Tennessee Highway Patrol, 59 year old James Rice is in critical condition at Erlanger Hospital in Chattanooga. A female passenger with Rice was not injured.

Trooper Burke told WJLE that Rice was traveling west on Highway 70 in a 1998 Honda Civic when he struck a horse standing in the roadway. The car then went off the left side of the highway and over an embankment. The car overturned on its top and came to a stop at the bottom of the embankment at Ollie Billings Road.

After the crash another motorist came upon the scene and struck the remains of the horse in the roadway. After the driver stopped and got out, he saw headlights shining from Rice’s car down the embankment and went to help. He cut the seatbelts loose from Rice and his passenger.

DeKalb EMS and members of the DeKalb County Volunteer Fire Department and Sheriff’s Department arrived on the scene. A helicopter landing zone was set up nearby and Rice was airlifted to Erlanger.

Meanwhile two people were injured in separate motorcycle crashes Saturday in DeKalb County

According to Trooper Chris Delong of the Tennessee Highway Patrol, 26 year old Corey Spare of Smithville was traveling east on Highway 70 east (Sparta Highway) on a 1981 GVT Suzuki motorcycle and could not stop after vehicles in front of him slowed due to another automobile making a left turn. Trying to avoid a collision with the vehicle in front of him, Spare swerved and ran off the right side of the roadway. The bike then struck a ditch causing disabling damage to the motorcycle. Spare was wearing a helmet.

60 year old Dawn Walker of Murfreesboro was hurt in a motorcycle wreck on Dale Ridge Road (Highway 96) Saturday afternoon.

Trooper Troy Withers of the Tennessee Highway Patrol said Walker was traveling south on 2006 Honda VTX and went off the right side of the roadway and into the grass while trying to negotiate a curve. Walker was thrown from the bike as it overturned. After impact the motorcycle came to rest on its side, facing south off the right side of the roadway. Walker was wearing a helmet.