Smithville Police Summoned to Fight Find Man with Meth and Fentanyl

April 15, 2024
By: Dwayne Page

Smithville Police, summoned to the scene of a reported fight last month, made an arrest after finding a man there with methamphetamine, Fentanyl, and drug paraphernalia.

33-year-old Jerry Cantrell of Adcock Cemetery Road, Smithville is charged with possession of methamphetamine, possession of drug paraphernalia, and two counts of simple schedule II drug possession.

According to Chief Mark Collins, an officer responded to a report of a fight on Jackson Street March 6 and upon arrival observed Cantrell walking away from the area. The officer called for Cantrell to return so he could speak with him. Initially Cantrell began to move toward the officer but then he darted behind a building where he allegedly tried to discard items he had on him which were found to be a pink substance believed to be Fentanyl, a crystal-like substance thought to be methamphetamine, and a glass pipe believed to have been used to ingest illegal substances.

Seventeen days later, Police arrested a Dowelltown man during a traffic stop after finding him with methamphetamine and Xanax. He was also wanted on an outstanding warrant out of Putnam County.

32-year-old Travis Joe Davenport of Dowelltown is charged with possession of methamphetamine and Xanax with intent to manufacture, sell, or deliver and a second offense of driving on a revoked license. Chief Collins said that on March 23 an officer spotted a white GMC Sonoma traveling on West Broad Street and upon checking the registration of the driver, Davenport, the officer learned that his license was revoked. He stopped the vehicle and discovered through central dispatch that Davenport had a warrant against him from Putnam County. After obtaining consent to search the automobile, the officer found about 18 grams of a crystal-like substance believed to be methamphetamine, 14 Xanax bars, and 8 small baggies for resale.

34-year-old Ryan Marsinko of Murfreesboro is charged with driving under the influence, possession of a handgun under the influence, violation of the implied consent law, and driving on roadways laned for traffic. Chief Mark Collins said that on March 2 while on patrol, an officer spotted a red Nissan Titan cross the center line on East Broad Street. He then pulled over the automobile and spoke with the driver, Marsinko. The officer detected a strong odor of alcohol coming from Marsinko and noticed that his speech was slurred. Marsinko also refused to submit to field sobriety tasks. While Marsinko was being arrested for DUI, the officer found a Glock 43x handgun in his waistband.

35-year-old Jeffery Dale Penuel of Mount Juliet is charged with two counts of domestic assault. Chief Collins said that on March 2 officers were called to a residence on O’Conner Street due to a domestic assault complaint. Upon arrival, they learned that Penuel had been in a physical altercation with his mother and ex-girlfriend. He allegedly struck both victims in the head and pushed them into a wall.

33-year-old Dustin Lynn Sissom of Jennings Lane is charged with evading arrest and driving under the influence. Chief Collins said that on March 3 while on patrol, an officer observed a black motorcycle operating at a high rate of speed on East Broad Street. He then got behind the bike and activated his lights and siren, but the operator of the motorcycle initially failed to pull over. After a pursuit for several miles, the motorcycle subsequently stopped and the officer found that the operator, Sissom had a strong odor of alcohol on his person and that he was unsteady on his feet. Sissom admitted to having had some alcoholic drinks at a bar. Sissom refused to submit to field sobriety tasks.

51-year-old Eric Matthew Blum of Nashville is charged with driving under the influence. Chief Collins said that on March 3 an officer saw a gray Toyota Tacoma cross the center line and the right side of the roadway several times. He pulled over the automobile and spoke with the driver, Blum who had a strong odor of alcohol on him. His eyes were red and watery, and his speech was slurred. According to police, Blum admitted to having consumed four beers within two hours at the Gentleman’s Club. Blum submitted to but performed poorly on field sobriety tasks.

47-year-old Tiffany Hendrixson is charged with possession of a schedule IV drug with intent to manufacture, sell, or deliver and possession of drug paraphernalia. She was also cited for a traffic control device violation. Chief Collins said that on March 4 an officer, while on patrol, spotted a vehicle run a red light on West Broad Street. The officer pulled over the automobile, spoke with the driver, Hendrixson and detected a strong odor of what he believed to be marijuana. According to police, Hendrixson told the officer a marijuana cigarette was in the ashtray. A subsequent search of the vehicle turned up three marijuana cigarettes, several burnt roaches, and two pills identified as Xanax.

44-year-old Joshua Crawford of Cookeville is charged with driving under the influence and driving with a suspended license. Chief Collins said that on March 13 an officer pulled over a white Toyota Tacoma on East Broad Street for failure to maintain lane of travel and spoke with the driver, Crawford. The officer noticed that Crawford’s eyes appeared to be watery and that his speech was slurred. An odor of alcohol was coming from the automobile. According to police, Crawford said he had been at the Gentleman’s Club for four hours. Crawford consented to but performed poorly on standardized field sobriety tasks. A background check revealed that Crawford’s license was suspended.

33-year-old Anthony Richard Shay of Oak Drive, Smithville is charged with driving under the influence. Chief Collins said that on March 17 while on patrol, an officer saw a vehicle fail to comply with the move over law while passing a deputy who had another automobile stopped. After pulling over the vehicle driven by Shay, the officer noticed that Shay’s eyes were red and watery and that his speech was slurred. He also had a strong odor of alcohol on him. Shay said that he had consumed about four beers and a shot of whiskey at a bar prior to driving. Shay submitted to but performed poorly on field sobriety tasks.

46-year-old Cynthia Ann Reeder of Morgan Drive, Smithville is charged with domestic assault and disorderly conduct. According to Chief Collins, an officer received a call on March 17 of an unwanted guest on Morgan Drive and upon arrival found a group of people in the front yard of the residence yelling and cussing. The officer intervened in separating the group and after speaking to witnesses determined that Reeder was the primary aggressor in a domestic dispute between Reeder and her boyfriend resulting in a facial injury to him.

Meanwhile, Chief Collins said that on March 18, police received a tip that juveniles had been sold alcohol at Broad Way Market. After an investigation including a review of camera images, 28-year-old Nicholas Dylan Gambill of Smithville, a cashier at the convenience market, was cited for sale of alcohol to an underage person.

50-year-old Shawn Edward Soales is charged with alteration of registration and driving on a suspended license. Chief Collins said that on March 21 while on patrol, an officer discovered through a background check that Soales’ license plate had been expired by almost a year even though the decal on the plate showed it still valid. After further examination of the decal, the officer discovered that it had been altered. During questioning by the officer, Soales admitted to having removed the decal from his girlfriend’s car, cutting it in half, and placing it over his car’s decal. Soales suspended license is from Alabama.

24-year-old Tyler Brock of Shady Drive, Smithville is charged with driving on a suspended license. According to Chief Collins, an officer pulled over a black Cadillac on Nashville Highway March 27 knowing that the registered owner’s license was suspended. The driver, Brock had been stopped and cited several times before apparently for the same offense.

21-year-old Russell Elliot of Brush Creek is charged with DUI and possession of a handgun while under the influence, and he was cited for speeding. Chief Collins said that on March 30 while on patrol, an officer clocked a vehicle on East Broad Street traveling at 70 miles per hour. He pulled over the automobile and while speaking to the driver, Elliot, the officer detected a strong odor of alcohol coming from him and his speech was slurred. Elliott submitted to but performed poorly on field sobriety tasks. He admitted to having consumed several beers and he told the officer that he had a firearm in the vehicle. A fully loaded 9-millimeter handgun was found in the front middle seat to the right of where Elliot was seated. Bond for Elliot is $8,500 and his court date is April 18.

30-year-old Destry Jordan Wiggins of Evins Mill Road, Smithville is charged with driving under the influence and cited for no proof of insurance, improper display of a tag, failure to maintain lane of travel, and violation of the implied consent law. According to Chief Collins at about 4 a.m. on March 31, an officer was on routine patrol when he spotted a vehicle with an improper display of a tag failing to maintain its lane of travel. The officer stopped the automobile and spoke with the driver, Wiggins who had a strong odor of alcohol on him and his eyes were red and watery. He also seemed to be disoriented and confused about his direction of travel. Wiggins said he had just left a bar on Highway 70 where had consumed alcohol. Wiggins performed poorly on field sobriety tasks, but he refused to submit to the implied consent law (blood test). A search warrant was subsequently obtained for a blood sample from Wiggins. Bond for Wiggins is $3,500 and his court date is April 18.

42-year-old Teodoro Garcia of Wade Street, Smithville is charged with driving under the influence and violation of the open container law. Chief Collins said that on March 26 an officer was summoned to the On the Way Market on South Congress Boulevard where a man had reportedly passed out in the driver’s seat of an orange Dodge Ram. Upon arrival the officer found the man, Garcia passed out with an open container of alcohol in the cup holder next to him. The officer tapped on the window of the vehicle and Garcia awoke. When Garcia stepped out of the automobile, the officer detected a strong odor of alcohol. Garcia’s eyes were red and watery, and he was unsteady on his feet. Garcia, who admitted to having consumed four or five beers, submitted to but performed poorly on field sobriety tasks. A search warrant was obtained for a sample of blood from Garcia.

April 14, 2024
By: Dwayne Page

A week after making a donation to DeKalb Middle School in support of its student garden project, members of Center Hill Masonic Lodge #77 presented another $200 check Friday, this time at DeKalb County High School for the Service Society Club’s Special Needs Prom which will be held at the school Friday, May 3.

Making the presentation were Lodge Master Don Adamson, Senior Warden Dustin Estes, Junior Warden Danny Pirtle, and Secretary Don Craze. Receiving the donation were Sara Young, DCHS Service Society sponsor and Math teacher, and Hope Carter, CDC Special Education Teacher.

The Special Needs Prom was started five years ago for DCHS students unable to attend the regular high school prom.

“Every year we host a special needs prom for the 15-18 students in CDC classes mostly but a few other students are also invited. They are our honored guests at this prom,” said Young. “ Its held at DCHS because the environment here is more conducive to them and they are able to enjoy the night more than going to the regular prom in Lebanon. Some of these students are not able to attend that prom,” Young explained. “This is their opportunity to have their own prom and not miss out on that event. We will assign peer buddies to the special needs students to make sure they have a good time, dance, and get to go on a limo ride around town. They will get a full meal and we will have a photo booth set up. Chris and Holly Moore will deejay for us. We appreciate this donation from Center Hill Masonic Lodge and we will use this money to provide a full meal for the special needs students. Usually the CDC Class covers the limo rental through their fundraisers including the sale of car fresheners that they make,” said Young.

“Yes, we make car fresheners,” added Carter. “Its an industrial type lesson for the kids to help them learn money and job skills. They make them (car fresheners) and we have some (students) who distribute them if its within the school setting and they save up that money and it goes into their account to rent the limo,” said Carter.

In addition to being involved on Special Needs Prom Night, Service Society students join in the effort to make preparations.

“We will transform the cafeteria and make it look nice,” said Young. “The Service Society students will help decorate before the prom. My service society kids say this prom is more fun than the regular prom. We always have so much fun and its my favorite event of the whole school year,” said Young.

“I also enjoy being with the kids and seeing their happy faces,” added Carter.

April 14, 2024
By: Bill Conger

A flavor of true African culture filled Smithville First Baptist Church when the Sozo Children’s Choir took the stage April 7.. The Ugandan choir made a tour stop in DeKalb County, telling about their mission and showcasing part of the lifestyle.

“The whole beginning part is to kind of expose people to African sounds, and colors and dance and style,” Ministry Outreach Leader Miguel Zayas explained. “Some of the songs were written by Ugandans. Some of the songs had Ugandan, which is their language, in it. So we have songs that are worship songs that everybody knows. So we want to have a good mix of both.”

The children’s joyous voices and vibrant enthusiasm led the people in a worship experience that had them on fire for the music and the ministry.

“Every even year we bring a group of kids from the village that we serve and our people that came in off of the rescue program to come to the United States to tour and tell their stories,” Zayas said. “We get a chance for them to have a missions trip to come to the US. Most have never been outside of their village, definitely not outside of Uganda. This is a once in a lifetime opportunity and really what we want to do in that is show the kids what God can do when we submit our lives to Him.”

“I love the roads,” Alex said when asked about what he likes about America. Miguel explained that the roads in Africa can be rough and quite bumpy to travel on.

Alex is a big fan of the plain chicken wings and Ssanyu likes to munch on eggs and especially cheese since that’s not available in her country. They both have spent more than a year preparing for this tour of the U.S.

“People are very welcoming, very loving,” Ssanyu said. “What I liked about today is that I got an opportunity to stand in front of people and worship the Lord.”

“Don’t ask me to sing or dance like the kids,” jokes Miguel, who is also the choir director. “We have a group of professionals in Uganda, a true choir director who teaches all the lines, breaks out all the harmonies. We have a choreographer who works on all the dances. So, the kids are in our care practically for a calendar year from January on to the end of the year, and then they’re performing the entire time when they’re in the US. The next picking of a choir will happen somewhere in July or August. They’ll move into a home with us in January of 2025 to prepare for 2026.”

Zayas explained that Sozo Children exists to empower vulnerable children to become thriving leaders for Jesus Christ.

“God gifts us with some of the most vulnerable children in Uganda in the villages and townships around where we’re working,” Zayas said. “The government or the police or the village gets involved, they call us, and they say we need to have a child rescued from either rape, abuse or neglect. There’s a variety of things that happen unfortunately in some places in some children’s lives. So, we immediately jump into action, figure out a plan and a way in which we’re going to rescue that child.”

The Sozo Children’s choir continues its tour in parts of Alabama and North Carolina the rest of this month before traveling to New York in May. To find out more about the organization, to make a donation or sponsor one of the children, go to www.Sozochildren.org.