Man Caught Trying to Throw Away Container of Marijuana During Traffic Stop

April 1, 2019
By: Dwayne Page

A man was arrested during a traffic stop Sunday after he tried to throw away a container of marijuana to keep a deputy from finding it.

25 year old Christopher Jones of Davis Street, Smithville is charged with tampering with evidence. He is under a $25,000 bond and his court date is April 18.

Sheriff Patrick Ray said that on Sunday, March 31 a deputy conducted a traffic stop of a vehicle for failing to maintain its lane of travel. Jones was a passenger. The deputy detected an odor of burnt marijuana coming from the automobile. Jones, the driver, and another passenger were asked to exit the vehicle. As Jones got out, the officer saw him throw a container about 20 feet into a ditch. The deputy recovered the container which held a green leafy substance believed to be marijuana. Jones was placed under arrest for trying to destroy the evidence.

41 year old Gary Ray Ashford of Goodner Lane, Alexandria is charged with public intoxication. His bond is $1,500 and he will make a court appearance on April 11.

Sheriff Ray said that on March 25 a deputy, while checking out a report of a reckless driver, spotted a vehicle on the side of the road on Nashville Highway. Ashford was standing beside the automobile. The officer stopped to talk to Ashford and noticed a strong odor of alcohol coming from his person. Ashford was unsteady on his feet and his speech was slurred. Ashford said his wife had been driving the car but had left him there and taken the keys with her. However another officer at the scene found the keys in a ditch beside the car.

36 year old Heather Trigg Frederick of Pine Grove Road, Smithville is charged with domestic assault. She is under a $2,500 bond and her court date is April 11.

Sheriff Ray said that on March 25 a deputy was dispatched to a residence on Students Home Road due to a complaint of a domestic assault. Upon arrival the officer spoke with the complainant who said that he and Frederick (his wife) had been drinking. He said Frederick became angry after he consumed her drinks and hit him in the head with her fist. Frederick’s version of the story was that after taking a nap she awoke and got into an argument with her husband and that she hit him in the head. There were no visible injuries and the man refused to have EMS take him to the hospital.

34 year old Sebrena Michelle Tate of Lower Helton Road, Alexandria is charged with public intoxication. Her bond is $1,500 and she will make a court appearance on April 18.

Sheriff Ray said that on March 30 a deputy was called to Obie Adcock Road due to a woman with a flashlight walking in the road. The deputy and other officers spotted the woman (Tate) and stopped to speak with her. She was unsteady on her feet. Her speech was slurred and her pupils were constricted. Tate said she saw people around her but the officers concluded she was hallucinating as there was actually no one with her. She declined medical treatment and was placed under arrest.

41 year old Alton Brian Bundy of Woodbury is charged with a 4th offense of driving under the influence. Bundy’s bond is $10,000 and his court date is April 18.

Sheriff Ray said that on March 31 a deputy was called to McMinnville Highway to look for a possible intoxicated driver who was observed leaving and then coming back onto the roadway. The officer stopped the vehicle for failure to maintain lane of travel. The driver, Bundy, had a strong odor of alcohol coming his person and his eyes were red and watery. Bundy, who was unsteady on his feet, performed poorly on field sobriety tasks. After refusing to give blood for a test, a search warrant was obtained to get a blood sample from him.

April 1, 2019
By: Dwayne Page

A McMinnville woman arrested for breaking into a residence in the Jefferson Community in January and stealing almost $29,000 worth of items including a truck was sentenced in DeKalb County Criminal Court today (Monday).

25 year old Lara Cheyenne Rigsby entered a plea to aggravated burglary and theft over $10,000. She received a 6 year sentence for the burglary and 4 years in the theft case to run consecutively for a total of 10 years suspended to supervised probation after serving 90 days. Rigsby must make restitution to the victim. She was given jail credit of 42 days.

Sheriff Patrick Ray said that on January 13, Rigsby broke into a home on Jefferson Road and stole a Kenmore electric range, Maytag washer and dryer, a mini-fridge, a 32 inch Samsung TV, a Dell computer, a Brothers sewing machine, leather rocker recliners, vases, wood art, a John Deere riding mower, 2007 Nissan Frontier, mantle clock, 22 caliber Smith & Wesson pistol, leather gun case, an electric tile saw, weedeater, leaf blower, air compressor, nail gun and other miscellaneous items totaling $28, 839 in value.

While committing the crimes, Rigsby also damaged the 2007 Nissan Frontier, an Acorn stair lift, stair rail, small vanity, picture frames, painted glass panel, door jam, and two walls. The total amount of the damages came to $5,882.

The case was investigated by Sheriff’s Department Detectives and some of the items including the truck were recovered.

Meanwhile, a Walling man who stole an ATV four wheeler in February and caused some damage in the process was sentenced today (Monday).

22 year old Timothy Tyler McWhirter entered a plea to theft of property over $2,500 and received a 4 year TDOC sentence on probation. He must make restitution of $2,500 to the victim. McWhirter was given jail credit of 35 days.

Sheriff Ray said that on February 8 McWhirter stole from a residence on Four Seasons Road a 2017 Honda Recon 680 and drove it through a fence while leaving the property. McWhirter’s actions destroyed the fence and damaged the ATV’s ignition lock. He also spray painted the frame of the ATV. Total damage came to $12,000.

The case was investigated by a Sheriff’s Department Detective.

54 year old Vincent Rodolphus Helser entered a plea to sale of methamphetamine over 0.5 grams. He received a 9 year TDOC sentence on probation as a range II offender after serving 180 days in the county jail. He was fined $2,000. The term is to run concurrently with a General Sessions Court sentence he is currently serving. Helser was given jail credit of 153 days and he must make restitution of $770 to the sheriff’s department.

April 1, 2019
By: Dwayne Page

A suspected drunk driver believed responsible for a head on crash Sunday night on South Congress Boulevard is facing DUI and vehicular assault charges after he gets out of the hospital.

38 year old James Christopher Vaughn was taken by DeKalb EMS to Saint Thomas DeKalb Hospital and then airlifted to Vanderbilt University Medical Center.

According to Smithville Police, Vaughn was driving north on South Congress Boulevard in a Chevy Cobalt when he crossed into the southbound lane and struck a Mercedes SUV driven by Billy Blevins near the intersection of Congress and Bryant Street. Bessie Blevins was a passenger.

After impact, Vaughn’s car came to rest in the center of the road and burst into flames. The SUV stopped in the grass on the west side of Congress Boulevard.

Vaughn, though seriously injured in the crash, was not believed to have suffered any burns. He apparently got out of his car before it caught fire. Before going to the hospital, Vaughn submitted to but performed poorly on field sobriety tasks. Vaughn’s speech was slurred and he was unsteady on his feet. He also had a strong odor of alcohol coming from his person. Vaughn agreed to a blood test.

Bessie Blevins was injured and taken by EMS to the hospital. Mr. Belvins went to the hospital by private vehicle.

The Smithville Volunteer Fire Department was also on the scene.

The crash was investigated by Smithville Police Sergeant Travis Bryant