Recent Wrecks Keep Officers and First Responders Busy

July 15, 2019
By: Dwayne Page

A 20 year old Sparta woman was involved in a rollover crash Monday afternoon on Highway 70 east in the Johnson’s Chapel area.

Trooper Bobby Johnson of the Tennessee Highway Patrol said Brooke Allen was traveling east in a Jeep Cherokee when she lost control and went off the right side of the highway. The vehicle hit a ditch and overturned coming to rest on the driver side. Allen was not seriously injured and refused transport to the hospital by EMS. The crash occurred during a shower and Allen claims the Jeep hydroplaned causing her to lose control. She was cited for failure to maintain lane of travel.

Another woman was involved in a crash later Monday afternoon on New Home Road near King Ridge Road.

She was traveling north in a GMC Acadia when she went off the left side of the road and plowed into a ditch before coming to a stop. Because her car was wedged against an embankment, members of the DeKalb County Volunteer Fire Department’s Extrication and Rescue Team were summoned to remove the driver side car door in order for EMS paramedics to gain access to her. She was taken by ambulance to the hospital. Her name was not immediately available.

The DeKalb County Sheriff’s Department was also on the scene of both accidents Monday.

Meanwhile the driver of a 2014 Kia Soul crashed into a mailbox and a utility pole Friday on Big Hurricane Road after suffering a medical episode.

Trooper Bobby Johnson of the Tennessee Highway Patrol said 59 year old Marsha Collins of Smithville was traveling west when she crossed the center line and went off the left side of the roadway, hitting a mailbox and utility pole. The car came to rest in the yard of 389 Big Hurricane Road.

She was taken by DeKalb EMS to St. Thomas DeKalb Hospital. According to Trooper Johnson, Collins said she had a medical issue which caused her to run off the road.

July 15, 2019
By: Dwayne Page

A man who assaulted his sister by throwing her down and biting her several times in the face was arrested Sunday.

35 year old Michael Kent Ford of Banks Pisgah Road, Smithville is charged with disorderly conduct; resist stop, frisk, halt, search, or arrest; and domestic assault. His bond totals $24,000 and his court date is August 8.

Sheriff Patrick Ray said that on Sunday, July 14 officers were called to a residence on Banks Pisgah Road to investigate a domestic assault. Upon arrival they learned that Ford had been there earlier and had thrown his sister to the ground and bit her several times in the face leaving red marks on both sides of her face, forehead, and a cut. Ford was not present when officers arrived but he returned while the deputies were conducting their investigation. According to Sheriff Ray, Ford stopped his car in the middle of the road, jumped out and began screaming and cussing as he ran toward his sister in a threatening manner. As officers tried to place Ford under arrest, he pulled away and had to be forcibly restrained.

53 year old James Vernon Rowe of Baxter is charged with two counts of domestic assault. His bond totals $5,000 and he will be in court July 25.

Sheriff Ray said that on July 11 a deputy was dispatched to Sunny Point Road in the Austin Bottom Community of DeKalb County due to a domestic assault. Upon arrival the officer learned that Rowe had assaulted his step-father during an argument leaving redness and swelling under the victim’s left eye and abrasions on the right side of his nose. Rowe also assaulted his brother, who tried to break-up the fight, by hitting him in the face and neck.

39 year old Aubrey Glenn Rigsby of Bethel Road, Smithville is charged with failure to appear. His bond is $4,500 and his court date is July 25. Sheriff Ray said that on June 23 Rigsby failed to report to the jail for booking on a criminal summons for shoplifting. He was served on June 13 and had 10 days to report for booking into the jail on this charge but he failed to do so.

49 year old Clarence Edward Sexton, Jr. of North Mountain Street, Smithville is charged with a 2nd offense of driving on a revoked license and he was cited for violation of the light law and simple possession of a schedule V drug. His bond is $4,500 and his court date is August 8.

Sheriff Ray said that on Sunday, July 14 a deputy conducted a traffic stop on a 1999 Toyota Corolla for a light law violation and spoke with the driver, Sexton. The officer found a cigarette pack containing 18 pills believed to be Gabapentin. A computer check revealed that Sexton’s license were revoked on October 6, 2015. He also has one prior conviction for driving on a revoked license on August 29, 2016.

July 15, 2019
By: Dwayne Page

A second arrest has been made in a recent burglary and theft on Ferrell Road.

Sheriff Patrick Ray said that 30 year old Toni Michelle Lloyd of Old Bildad Road, Smithville is charged with vandalism, theft of property over $10,000, and burglary. Her bond is $11,000 and she will make a court appearance July 25.

22 year old Dylan Allen Crook of Alexandria was arrested earlier in the case and charged with the same offenses. He is under a $55,000 bond and his court date is July 25.

Sheriff Ray said that on June 29, Lloyd and Crook broke into a garage on Ferrell Road and stole several items including tools, luggage, emergency vehicle lighting, and a dirt bike stand with a total value of $11,501. They also destroyed ignition switches trying to steal a John Deere 5103 tractor, Polaris Outlaw 90 ATV, Bobcat lawnmower, and a Ranger Crew 1,000 XP UTV. Damage to the ignition switches and to the door frame of the garage where this equipment was stored came to $1,120.

A prisoner was caught with contraband in the jail believed to be marijuana.

48 year old Chad Everette Knowles of the Loop Circle. Smithville is charged with the offense and will make a court appearance on July 25. His bond is $2,500.

Sheriff Ray said that on July 9 a correctional officer spotted Knowles trying to hide a piece of paper containing a green leafy substance, believed to be marijuana under his mat in the jail.