10-Year-Old Girl Airlifted After Being Struck By Motorist

March 12, 2024
By: Dwayne Page

A 10-year-old girl crossing West Main Street on foot was hit by a motorist this morning (Tuesday)

The accident occurred around 7:15 a.m.

According to Trooper Chris Delong of the Tennessee Highway Patrol, the young girl was attempting to cross the street when she darted into the path of a westbound 2012 Mini Cooper, driven by an 18-year-old girl. The child apparently did not see the car approaching and the driver of the vehicle was unable to stop in time to avoid the accident.

The child was airlifted to Vanderbilt Hospital, but her injuries were not believed to be life threatening. Trooper Delong said the child was alert and talking at the scene.

Smithville Police and Fire responded along with DeKalb EMS.

March 12, 2024
By: Dwayne Page

After a brief law enforcement pursuit and crash last week, a Smithville man found with drugs was taken into custody.

24-year-old Lucas Robert Croom of Wenger Lane, Smithville is charged with possession of drug paraphernalia, driving on a revoked or suspended license, evading arrest, and simple possession of a schedule III drug. His bond is $20,000 and he will make a court appearance March 28.

Sheriff Patrick Ray said that on March 7 a deputy tried to conduct a traffic stop on a purple Ford Ranger for failure to maintain its lane of travel but after the officer turned on his emergency lights and sirens, the truck failed to stop resulting in a short pursuit. After the vehicle wrecked on Cordell Love Road, the driver, Croom, was taken into custody and during a search, the officer found in the floor of the truck a pink pill in a clear bag believed to be suboxone. He also found a black scale, a spoon, and a red cylinder container with residue. A background check revealed that Croom’s driver license was suspended.

55-year-old Jeffery Lee Bates of Bright Hill Road, Smithville is charged with aggravated assault. His bond is $7,500 and he will be in court March 21.

Sheriff Ray said that on March 5 a deputy responded to an unwanted guest call on Midway Road. Upon arrival, the officer found the alleged unwanted guest, Bates standing on the porch of a residence. After speaking with Bates the officer then contacted the complainant who alleged that Bates had pulled a knife on a neighbor. The deputy then contacted the neighbor who reported that Bates had pointed a knife at her chest.

22-year-old Ivy Leigh Crim of Murfreesboro is charged with contributing to the delinquency of a minor. Her bond is $5,000 and she will make a court appearance on March 21.

Sheriff Ray said that on October 28, 2022 Crim was the passenger of a 2014 Ford Escape she owned when Crim and the driver picked up on Tiger Drive near the health department two juveniles who had just left DCHS without permission to run away from home. Both teens were on probation in DeKalb County at the time. Their names were entered into the National Crime Information Center (NCIC) as missing.

27-year-old Ricky Lee Rogers of McMinnville is charged with violation of an order of protection. His bond is $5,000 and he will be in court March 21.

Sheriff Ray said that on March 6 a deputy was summoned to Ridgeview Trail in the Austin Bottom community due to a vehicle accident without injury. There he spoke with Rogers who was a passenger of a vehicle involved in the crash. His speech was slurred. His eyes were bloodshot, and he was unsteady on his feet. It appeared Rogers was under the influence, and he admitted to having consumed alcohol. A Background check revealed that Rogers is under an active order of protection in Putnam County and one of the conditions is that he is to not possess or consume alcohol.

53-year-old William Bradley Stoker of Midway Road, Smithville is charged with theft of property. His bond is $10,000 and he will make a court appearance March 21.

Sheriff Ray said that on March 3 Stoker allegedly stole a 2003 Ford Mustang valued at $5,700 from a home on Midway Road, Deputies found Stoker in possession of the car on March 7. The case was investigated by sheriff’s department detectives.

46-year-old Jasper Robert Lee Beasley of High Street, Alexandria is charged with driving under the influence. He is under a $3,500 bond and his court date is March 21.

Sheriff Ray said that on March 8, an officer spotted Beasley behind the wheel of a 2014 GMC Sierra at Shady Lane and High Street in Alexandria. When he got out of the vehicle, Beasley was unsteady on his feet. His speech was slurred, and his eyes were bloodshot. Beasley admitted to having consumed alcohol and taking morphine and Roxicodone. He was unable to perform field sobriety tasks.

39-year-old Phillip Michael Scarsellone of Old Mill Hill Road, Dowelltown is charged with domestic assault. His bond is $3,500 and he will be in court March 21.

Sheriff Ray said that on March 9 a deputy was summoned to Old Mill Hill Road due to a domestic complaint. Upon arrival he spoke with Scarsellone and a woman. An investigation revealed that Scarsellone shoved the woman causing her to be afraid.

21-year-old Ricardo Camacho Desirena of Judkins Lane, Smithville is charged with consumption of alcohol under age 21 and no driver license. His bond is $6,000 and he will make a court appearance March 28.

Sheriff Ray said that on March 10 a deputy was patrolling Banks Pisgah Road, Smithville when he spotted a vehicle that had run into a ditch. At the scene, the officer also found Desirena who had alcohol in the vehicle. When asked for a driver license, Desirena could only provide an ID from Mexico.

34-year-old Jeremy Trent Sanders of Murfreesboro is charged with driving under the influence. His bond is $2,000 and he will be in court March 14.

Sheriff Ray said that on March 2 a deputy was at the Midnight Express on Sparta Highway on a call and during that investigation, Sanders walked up to the officer acting belligerently and he smelled of alcohol. At first Sanders complied with the officer’s request to leave but he later returned still acting belligerently. Sanders again was asked to leave and complied. Later Sanders returned again in a gray Nissan Altima. Sanders, who appeared to be intoxicated, was removed from the vehicle and placed under arrest after refusing to submit to field sobriety tasks and implied consent.

22-year-old Fredy Santiago Guendulain of West Main Street, Smithville is charged with driving under the influence and no driver license. His bond is $2,000 and he will be in court March 14.

Sheriff Ray said that on March 3 a deputy was traveling west on Sparta Highway when he spotted a gray Ford Focus leave its lane of travel several times. It almost ran off the roadway into a field. After conducting a traffic stop, the officer spoke to the driver, Guendulain, who had a strong odor of alcohol on his person, bloodshot eyes, slurred speech, and he was unsteady on his feet. He was placed under arrest.

March 11, 2024
By: Dwayne Page

Four people including two minor children escaped injury in a two-vehicle crash Monday afternoon in Smithville.

Trooper Bobby Johnson of the Tennessee Highway Patrol said that 30-year-old Louis Richards of Smithville was driving a 2023 Ford F150 attempting to cross Dry Creek Road from Villa Street when he pulled into the path of a 1999 Chevy Silverado, driven by 59-year-old Barry Deaver of Smithville who was west on Dry Creek Road. Two minor children were with Richards. The impact of the crash forced the Silverado into the creek near Whaley Street where it came to rest on the passenger side. No one was injured.

Members of the Smithville Police and Fire Department responded along with DeKalb EMS.