Man who lied to officer about being firefighter charged with criminal impersonation

April 12, 2022
By: Dwayne Page

A man who lied about being a member of the county fire department and rescue squad in order to gain access to the Johnson’s Chapel Recreation area where a body was found in the lake last Wednesday has been charged with criminal impersonation.

38-year-old Dustin Joseph Roberts of Old Smithville Highway, Silver Point is under a $4,500 bond and he will make a court appearance April 14.

Sheriff Patrick Ray said that on Wednesday, April 6 a deputy was called to Johnson’s Chapel Road where he blocked traffic to the boat ramp as investigators were on the scene of a body found floating in the lake. As the deputy was directing traffic only letting emergency personnel through, Roberts walked up to his patrol car stating he was with the fire department and rescue squad. The deputy asked if he was with the DeKalb County Fire Department. Roberts answered that he was a member of the Coffee County Fire Department. The deputy checked with the DeKalb County and Cannon County Fire Departments and learned that Roberts was not a current member with either department.

19-year-old Marshall Cody Hullett of Four Seasons Road, Smithville is charged with underage driving while impaired. His bond is $1,500 and he will make a court appearance June 30.

Sheriff Ray said that on April 7 a deputy was patrolling Sparta Highway when he spotted a red Pontiac in which the driver failed to use his turn signal while turning. The officer pulled over the car and spoke with the driver, Hullett who had a strong odor of alcohol on him, and his speech was slurred. Hullett admitted to having consumed four or five shots of liquor earlier in the night. Hullett submitted to but performed poorly on field sobriety tasks.

41-year-old Jason Michael Hull of Jamestown is charged with violation of an order of protection. He is under a $7,500 bond and his court date is April 21.

Sheriff Ray said that on April 7 a deputy was summoned to the area of Cookeville Highway due to a report of a rolling domestic near the bridge. While enroute, the officer spotted a vehicle matching the description and it appeared to him that the occupants were arguing. The deputy stopped the automobile and conducted a driver license check which revealed an active order of bond conditions against Hull originating in Sevier County to keep away from the person he was found with in the car.

43-year-old David Wayne Gaines of Snow Hill Road, Dowelltown is charged with evading arrest. His bond is $3,500 and he will make a court appearance April 28.

Sheriff Ray said that on April 9 a deputy went to West Main Street trying to locate Gaines on a failure to appear warrant to be held without bond. Upon arrival, the officer spotted Gaines standing in front of a shed. After Gaines saw the deputy he began to flee on foot through a field toward West Broad Street. Gaines was later found hiding in a bush beside a home on West Broad Street and then taken into custody.

37-year-old Vilot Mae Tucker of Antioch Road, Smithville is charged with domestic assault. Her bond is $3,500 and she will be in court April 28.

Sheriff Ray said that on April 10 a deputy responded to a domestic assault call at a residence on Antioch Road where he spoke to a man who said that his wife, Tucker became very angry with him during an argument and that she started hitting and throwing things at him. The man had marks on his face that appeared to be from the assault. Witnesses at the scene also confirmed the assault through written statements.

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