Emergency Naloxone Reversal Training Set for Thursday, March 11

March 9, 2021
By: Dwayne Page

Opioid Overdose continues to claim lives. One way to prevent opioid overdose deaths is to learn how to respond in this medical emergency. Time is critical but Naloxone is an emergency medication that has the potential to save lives and restore breathing until EMS arrives.

The DeKalb Prevention Coalition has been made aware of an increased number of overdoses in DeKalb County within the past few days. With this information the DPC has scheduled an Emergency Naloxone Reversal training.

You are urged to participate in this emergency life-saving training Thursday, March 11 from 5-7 p.m. under a tent in the parking lot of the County Complex sponsored by the DeKalb Prevention Coalition in partnership with the Tennessee Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services and Upper Cumberland Regional Overdose Prevention Specialists Suzanne Angel and Colby Lane.

Narcan training is free and in less than 15 minutes community members can learn how to use this emergency medication to restore breathing to someone having an opioid overdose until EMS arrives.

For more details visit the DeKalb County Prevention Coalition facebook page.

March 9, 2021
By: Dwayne Page

A meth lab discovery has led to drug charges against a local man.

40 year old Corey Wade Thomas of Hurricane Ridge Road, Smithville is charged with initiation of methamphetamine manufacture and simple possession of a schedule IV drug (Xanax). He is under a $5,000 bond and his court date is April 22.

Sheriff Patrick Ray said that on February 28 a detective was summoned by deputies to Highland Drive, Smithville where a suspected meth lab was discovered in a shed behind the residence. Officers confronted Thomas who was on the scene and received consent to search. Inside the shed by the door was a bottle with a taped hose protruding from the top of it. Another bottle with chemicals was also found on a table along with Pseudoephedrine, instant ice packs, crystal drain cleaner, muriatic acid, lithium batteries, coffee filters and other items and paraphernalia both in the shed and in a grill outside the shed. Inside the left front pocket of Thomas’ jogging pants under his jeans was a small silver container with 5 yellow pills believed to be Xanax. Thomas claimed he had a prescription for the pills but could not produce one for the officers. Thomas said all the items found on the property belonged to him.

32 year old Jacob Daniel Demps of Cookeville is charged with domestic assault. His bond is $5,000. Sheriff Ray said that on February 25 a deputy was dispatched to Sparta Highway after a 911 hang up. While enroute central dispatch notified the officer of a possible domestic there. Upon his arrival the deputy saw a gold truck drive away from the residence and was informed by dispatch that the primary aggressor had left in the vehicle. The officer pulled over the truck and spoke with the suspect, Demps and placed him under arrest. The victim told officers that Demps made her fear for her life.

57 year old William Alton Rainey of Sewanee, Georgia, wanted for three counts of probation violation, was arrested on February 27. He was further charged with resist, stop, frisk, halt, search or arrest. His bond is $3,000 and he will make a court appearance May 13.

Sheriff Ray said that two deputies were sent to E.H. Haas Road, Dowelltown where they found Rainey. A warrant check revealed he had three active warrants against him in DeKalb County. After the officers informed Rainey about the warrants he tried to flee on foot but was caught and arrested although he tried to pull away from them and had to be forcibly placed in custody.

49 year old David Eugene Driver of Holiday Haven Road, Smithville is charged with violation of an order of protection. His bond is $7,500 and he will make a court appearance on April 29

Sheriff Ray said that on March 1 a deputy responded to a residence on Holiday Haven Road due to an unwanted guest. Upon arrival he spoke with a woman who said she had an active order of protection against Driver whom she saw park in her driveway. As the deputy was speaking with the woman, her phone rang and when she answered the woman told the officer that the caller was Driver. By placing that phone call Driver was determined to have violated the order of protection against him.

Six days later on March 7, Driver was again charged with a violation of an order of protection, being an habitual driving offender, and stalking. His bond for these offenses is $27,500.

Sheriff Ray said that on March 6 Driver violated the order of protection against him by confronting his victim in a threatening manner at McDonalds. The incident was captured on the restaurant’s surveillance video.

The aggravated stalking charge states that between February 13 and March 7 Driver engaged in a continual pattern of harassment in person and by electronic means causing the victim to suffer emotional distress and to feel threatened and terrorized.

The habitual driving offense states that on March 7 a deputy spotted Driver operating a Chevy S-10 on Game Ridge Road and pulled him over. The officer learned through central dispatch that Driver’s license were revoked and that he is an habitual offender due to past driving convictions.

18 year old Sergio Cruz Garcia of Bell Street, Smithville and 22 year old Megan Elizabeth Owens of West Broad Street, Smithville are charged with contributing to the delinquency of a minor. Their court date is May 6.

Sheriff Ray said that on March 2 Garcia and Owens encouraged the unruly behavior of two young girls by taking them to another female teen’s home and urging them to start a fight there.

36 year old Joseph Stephen Audas of Bethel Road, Smithville is charged with theft of property. His bond is $5,000 and he will make a court appearance May 6.

Sheriff Ray said that on March 4 a deputy went to a residence on Bethel Road looking for Audas who had an outstanding warrant against him in Warren County. Upon arrival the officer spotted a 2001 black Audi matching the description of a stolen vehicle. The deputy then contacted Central dispatch and learned that this vehicle was stolen in Coffee County on February 16, 2020. Audas admitted to the officer that the stolen automobile was in his possession.

48 year old Scottie Lynn Sykes is charged with domestic assault. His bond is $3,500 and he will be in court March 11.

Sheriff Ray said that on March 7 a deputy was sent to Allen Ferry Road due to several 911 calls and upon arrival spoke with a woman who said that Sykes had assaulted her. The left side of her face was swollen and the back of her head was bleeding from a cut. An investigation determined that Sykes had been the primary aggressor.

March 8, 2021
By: Dwayne Page

Daylight Saving Time begins Sunday, March 14 and while you are changing your clocks, the DeKalb County Fire Department wants to remind you to also change batteries in your smoke and carbon monoxide alarms. The message is simple and it’s easy to do. Please take a few minutes to make sure life-saving alarms have fresh batteries so you, your family, and your home are protected.

Lieutenant Dustin Johnson, the DeKalb County Fire Department’s Fire Prevention and Safety Officer, reminds DeKalb County residents that after batteries are changed in alarms, take a few extra minutes to test your alarms and remind family, friends, and neighbors to do the same. Not all smoke alarms have batteries that have to be replaced each year. Some newer model alarms have batteries that last up to 10 years. However, it is still very important to test and clean your alarms. You can clean and maintain them simply by using compressed air to remove dust residue that accumulates on alarms that can cause the alarm’s sensor to not operate properly.

Eighty percent of child fire fatalities occur in homes without working smoke alarms. It’s a tragic statistic that can be prevented. Changing smoke alarm batteries at least once a year, testing those alarms, and reminding others to do the same are some of the simplest, most effective ways to reduce these tragic deaths and injuries. “The vast majority of our house fires happen between 11 p.m. and 7 a.m. when most families are sleeping,” said Lt. Johnson. “Smoke alarm installation and maintenance is a simple, effective way to reduce home fire deaths. Children and senior citizens are most at risk, and a working smoke alarm can give them the extra seconds they need to get out safely.”

“A working smoke detector doubles your chance of surviving a home fire. So, why would you not want you and your family to have this protection?” For more information about fire safety, visit the DeKalb County Fire Department’s FaceBook Group page or the department’s website at www.dekalbfire.com.