Man caught using artificial genitals to falsify a drug test

February 7, 2022
By: Dwayne Page

A man caught trying to falsify a drug test by using artificial genitals to discharge a clean urine sample will make a court appearance on the charge.

29-year-old Chad Stephen Taylor of Cleveland Way, Smithville is under a $2,500 bond and he will be in court February 17.

Sheriff Patrick Ray said that on January 27 while working in the courtroom a probation officer asked a deputy to assist him in administering a drug screen for Taylor. While visually inspecting Taylor for any substances or devices that could alter his drug screen, the deputy observed an artificial penis with a urine like substance as if Taylor was trying to falsify his drug screen with someone else’s urine.

February 7, 2022
By: Dwayne Page

A man who fired shots at his girlfriend as she was speeding away from him in her automobile has been charged with aggravated assault.

40-year-old Jermaica Cherome League of Parkway Drive, Smithville is under a $5,000 bond.

Sheriff Patrick Ray said that on January 29 the victim phoned a deputy at the sheriff’s department to report that League had fired four gunshots at her but that she had not been hit. The woman reported that prior to the shooting she had left her residence to meet League at the intersection of Jefferson Road and Keltonburg Road and that after her arrival League got out of his vehicle and started yelling at her. As the woman drove away, League followed her to the intersection of Old Keltonburg Road and Old Bildad Road where he again got out of his vehicle but this time he pulled a gun and fired four shots at her but missed as she again sped away. The officer located two 9 millimeter shell casings at the scene of the shooting at Old Keltonburg Road and Old Bildad Road.

23-year-old Robert Wayne Porter, Jr. of Midway Road Smithville is charged with aggravated assault. His bond is $5,000 and he will make a court appearance February 17.

Sheriff Ray said that on February 4 a deputy was summoned to a residence on Midway Road due to a domestic complaint. Upon arrival the officer learned that Porter and a woman had gotten into an argument which became physical when Porter got angry and shoved her into a wall and then grabbed a large stick and swung it at her.

February 7, 2022
By: Dwayne Page

The DeKalb County Sheriff’s Department coordinated another ground and aerial search Saturday, February 5 for a man who has been missing for almost two months.

29-year-old Matthew Braswell hasn’t been seen or heard from since he fled into the woods after a crash on Ponder Road Friday morning, December 17.

According to Sheriff Patrick Ray, Braswell was a passenger of a 2006 Chevy Tahoe, driven by 26-year-old Danny Phillips of McMinnville when they were spotted by a resident going through the mail of his mailbox on Ponder Road that morning (December 17).

As the resident came out of his home to confront them, the truck sped away but then went out of control and struck several trees at the edge of the road. The two men then bailed out of the truck and fled into the woods. Phillips was quickly captured but Braswell got away and hasn’t been seen since. Even Braswell’s girlfriend claims she has not heard from him. Phillips was transported by DeKalb EMS to Ascension Saint Thomas DeKalb Hospital and later taken to Vanderbilt Medical Center. The Tennessee Highway Patrol worked the injury accident.

Local and state authorities including a K-9 unit conducted a ground search for Braswell that day but to no avail. A THP helicopter flight crew and multiple ground searches were done Monday December 20, 2021 but there was no sign of Braswell other than his white and gray jacket, which was found in the woods about a half mile from the crash site. Since the incident, Braswell’s family hasn’t heard from him. Braswell has been entered into the National Crime Information Center (NCIC) as a missing person.

On February 5, 2022, the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Department, along with multiple agencies gathered back on Ponder Road to do another land and aerial search. According to Sheriff Ray “The DeKalb County Sheriff’s Department along with other agencies searched on foot for Braswell along with 12 K-9 cadaver/tracking dogs and drones, but we still didn’t find anything.”

Authorities are still actively looking for Braswell. He was last seen wearing blue jeans and possibly a white tank top shirt. He stands six feet tall and weighs 150 pounds. His hair and eyes are brown in color and he has facial tattoos with a money sign “$” over his right eye and the name “Kim” over his left eye. Braswell has a mustache/goatee. Braswell was reported not to have a primary address.

The District Attorney’s Office along with the Tennessee Highway Patrol are assisting the DeKalb Sheriff’s Department in the investigation.

If anyone has any information on the whereabouts of Braswell, please call the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Department at 615-597-4935 extension 205 or ask for Detective Mason Merriman. Anyone can also call the DeKalb County Crime Line at 615-464-6400 with any information.