Police find woman looking for a snake in her car

August 22, 2019
By: Dwayne Page

A woman apparently high on drugs told officers she was looking for a snake in her car when recently confronted by Smithville Police during a welfare check. No snake was found.

44 year old Angela Renee Rhea of McMinnville was arrested on August 3 for a 2nd offense of driving under the influence. Police observed a white vehicle sitting at the ATM on South Congress Boulevard and stopped to do a welfare check about 45 minutes later when the officer noticed that the car was still sitting there. The driver, Rhea, said she was looking for a snake in her car. Rhea’s pupils were dilated and wouldn’t restrict. The officer learned that she had taken Gabapentin earlier. Rhea submitted to but performed poorly on field sobriety tasks and was then taken into custody. Her bond is $5,000.

36 year old Jessie Anne Davis of Liberty was cited on July 19 for possession of drug paraphernalia. During a traffic stop, police found Davis with a black marijuana grinder, a red grinder, and a pink & blue marijuana pipe.

23 year old Robert Alan Norrod of Dowelltown was arrested on July 19 for a 2nd offense of driving on a suspended license, misuse of registration, and he was cited for financial responsibility.
Police spotted a white van pull into a residence on Anthony Avenue and stopped to investigate due to reports of recent burglaries in the area. The officer spoke with the driver, Norrod, asking to see his license, registration, and proof of insurance. After checking with Central Dispatch the officer learned that Norrod’s license has been suspended and his license plate expired since October 2018 even though the plate had a 2019 decal on it. Police learned that the license plate belonged to someone in Nashville. Norrod also could not provide proof of insurance. His bond is $4,500.

28 year old Ricardo Loaiza Gonzalez of North Carolina was arrested for public intoxication on July 20. Police were called to McDonalds and found Gonzalez to be unsteady on his feet and his eyes were glossy. The officer also smelled an alcoholic beverage about Gonzalez and saw that he was unaware of his surroundings. Gonzalez was taken into custody. His bond is $1,500.

43 year old Jimmy Layne Estes was arrested for theft on July 24. While visiting a residence on Crest Avenue, police say Estes reached into a purse and took his victim’s money and identification before running out the front door. Officers located him later and placed him in custody. His bond is $3,500.

36 year old Jaquantez Shermont Pearson of 318 Bell Street was arrested on July 31 for violation of an order of protection. Police were called to Bell Street Apartments due to a possible domestic incident and upon arrival spoke with a woman who reported that everything was okay. After she gave him permission to search the apartment, the officer found Pearson in the back bedroom and took him into custody knowing that he was under an active order of protection to keep away from this woman. His bond is $2,500.

24 year old Matthew Allen White of 408 Kendra Drive was cited July 31 for simple possession. Police were informed that White, who had an active warrant against him for failure to appear, was spotted at Mapco Express. Upon arrival the officer found White inside the store near the restrooms. During a search incident to arrest, police found 3 pills believed to be Xanax for which White had no prescription.

August 22, 2019
By: Dwayne Page

Two pickup trucks collided Wednesday afternoon at the intersection of Highways 70 & 83 near Kilgore’s Restaurant.

According to Trooper Brent Collier of the Tennessee Highway Patrol 35 year old Billy Johnson of Short Mountain Road, McMinnville was north on Highway 83 (New Home Road) in a 1988 Dodge Ram pickup truck when he crossed Highway 70 and into the path of a 2005 Chevy pickup truck, driven by 23 year old Rachel Checchi of Smithville who was traveling east on Highway 70.

Checchi was taken by DeKalb EMS to the hospital but she wasn’t believed to have been seriously injured.

Johnson was not hurt and neither were his passengers, 39 year old Crystal Dillon, 20 year old Jacob Pollard, and 23 year old Tiffani Pollard all of McMinnville. Johnson was cited for failure to yield.

August 21, 2019
By: Dwayne Page

Two people escaped injury in a two car crash Wednesday afternoon on Highway 56 south at South Tittsworth Road near WJLE.

Trooper Brent Collier of the Tennessee Highway Patrol said 22 year old Tayler Martin of Smithville was traveling south in a 2013 Toyota Scion FR-S on the McMinnville Highway when she stopped to make a left turn onto South Tittsworth Road. Approaching her from behind was a 2001 BMW 325, driven by 22 year old Tristin Jackson of Franklin who was also heading south.

According to Trooper Collier, Jackson tried to pass Martin and struck her car as she was making the turn. Upon impact the BMW overturned through the edge of a cornfield and came to rest on it’s top in a grassy area off the highway. Martin’s car came to rest off the road facing east.

Neither driver was injured but Jackson was cited for failure to exercise due care.