August 14, 2023
By: Dwayne Page
A Smithville man found in possession of a stolen truck has been charged with theft of property and vandalism.
32-year-old Justin Clay Penuel of O’Conner Street is under a $10,000 bond and he will be in court August 31,
Sheriff Patrick Ray said that on June 19 Smithville Police responded to 850 O’Conner Street due to a report of a stolen vehicle. Upon arrival the officers spotted a 1993 Chevy reported stolen in DeKalb County. Penuel was found in possession of the title and vehicle. Sheriff Ray said the truck had been altered with spray paint to make it unrecognizable from the description given of the stolen vehicle.
Meanwhile a McMinnville man found with methamphetamine at a former county landfill location on Moore Taylor Road off Sparta Highway has been arrested for possession of methamphetamine with intent to manufacture, sell, or deliver.
38-year-old Brandon Keith Thomas is under a $20,000 bond and he will make a court appearance August 24.
Sheriff Ray said that on August 11 Thomas was found in possession of 4.05 grams of a crystal-like substance believed to be methamphetamine contained in two separate baggies. Thomas entered an unapproved area owned by the DeKalb County government at the end of Moore Taylor Road. He quickly exited the vehicle and ran behind a building there. One of the detectives on the scene found baggies of methamphetamine a few feet away from Thomas’ vehicle and along the same path on which Thomas ran behind the building.
23-year-old Shaun David Lee West is under a $1,500 bond for public intoxication, and he will be in court August 31. Sheriff Ray said that on August 14 while investigating a harassment complaint, a deputy spoke with West at Village Market on Congress Boulevard and found him to be agitated and acting in a threatening manner. He allegedly admitted to having made threats about killing someone and would continue making those threats. West also allegedly admitted to having consumed alcohol and that he was drunk. West had an odor of an intoxicant on him. He was placed under arrest.
32-year-old Eddie Lee Smith of Old Mill Hill Road, Dowelltown is charged with aggravated assault. He is under a $3,500 bond and his court date is August 31.
Sheriff Ray said that on August 6 a deputy was summoned to a residence on Toad Road due to a physical domestic complaint. Upon arrival the officer spoke with a woman who had phoned in the complaint. She stated that her boyfriend, Smith tried to strangle her and during the assault it became difficult for her to breathe. He then allegedly pushed her into the kitchen sink.
50-year-old Dwayne Edward Reeder, Jr. of Old Highway 53, Alexandria is charged with driving under the influence. His court date is August 24.
Sheriff Ray said that on August 7 a deputy responded to the area of Nashville Highway and Dry Creek Road to do a welfare check on a male spotted slumped over in a vehicle by the side of the road. Upon arrival the officer found the man, Reeder slumped over in the driver’s seat. After waking the man, Reeder, the deputy asked him to shut the engine off and step out of the vehicle. Reeder complied but he was unsteady on his feet and his pupils were constricted. He admitted to having taken suboxone earlier in the day and to having smoked methamphetamine the day before on August 6. Reeder refused to submit to field sobriety tasks.