February 9, 2021
By: Dwayne Page
A Dowelltown man is facing forgery, burglary, and theft charges.
25 year old Eric Lane Petty of Sims Street, Dowelltown is charged with forgery, theft of property, aggravated burglary, two counts of property theft under $1,000, and burglary. His bond totals $45,000 and his court date is May 6.
Sheriff Patrick Ray said that on January 27 Petty allegedly broke into a trailer at a business on Nashville Highway at Liberty and took a propane tank and hose along with a 4,000 BTU Buddy heater. The total value of the items taken was almost $200.
The same day Petty allegedly broke into a residence on Sims Street at Dowelltown and took an Emerson television, weedeater, and other items with a total value of $690.
Five days later on February 1 Petty allegedly took a check out of a mailbox on Sims Street in Dowelltown, forged a name on the back of the check, and passed it at a business in Liberty in the amount of $300.
The cases were investigated by sheriff’s department detectives.
A woman caught driving drunk with her three month old child in the car with her has been charged with child abuse or neglect, driving under the influence, and driving on roadways laned for travel. She was further cited for having no child restraint device in the vehicle and for violation of the open container law.
32 year old Jessica Leann Bain of Dry Creek Road, Smithville is under a bond of $11,500 and she will make a court appearance May 6.
Sheriff Ray said that on February 5 a deputy spotted a red Nissan Sentra traveling west on Nashville Highway. The car ran off the road near DeKalb Market before coming back onto the highway and leaving its lane of travel several times. The officer pulled over the vehicle and spoke to the driver, Bain who smelled of alcohol. Bain’s speech was slurred and she was unsteady on her feet. Bain submitted to but performed poorly on field sobriety tasks. She had two open containers of mixed drinks in the car and her three month old son, improperly restrained, was a passenger.
57 year old Michael Anthony Beasley of Johnson Ridge Road, Smithville is charged with driving under the influence. He was further cited for roadways laned for travel and simple possession of a schedule VI drug. His bond is $1,500 and he will make a court appearance May 6.
Sheriff Ray said that on February 6 a deputy spotted a blue Nissan truck cross the white line of the road several times on Nashville Highway. The officer stopped the truck and spoke with the driver, Beasley who smelled of alcohol. Beasley submitted to but performed poorly on field sobriety tasks. A metal cup containing an alcoholic beverage was in the cupholder. While searching Beasley, the deputy found in his pocket an orange pill bottle which held one gram of a green leafy substance believed to be marijuana.
33 year old Jordan Michael Thomas of Hendersonville is charged with driving under the influence. His bond is $1,500 and he will make a court appearance May 6.
Sheriff Ray said that on February 1 a deputy conducted a traffic stop and spoke with the driver, Thomas. The officer noticed that Thomas’ speech was slurred and he smelled of alcohol. As he got out of the vehicle, Thomas became unsteady on his feet. He submitted to but performed poorly on field sobriety tasks.