Probation Violator Tries to Avoid Arrest by Hiding in a Barn

January 25, 2020
By: Dwayne Page

A man wanted for violation of probation was arrested recently after a deputy spotted him trying to hide in a barn.

45 year old Billy Wayne Crook of Lawery Road, Smithville is charged with evading arrest. He was also cited for simple possession of a schedule III drug (suboxone). Bond for Crook is $5,000.

Sheriff Patrick Ray said that on January 14 a deputy was patrolling on Keltonburg Road when he saw a maroon Chevy Impala fail to dim its headlights. The car turned onto Students Home Road and then to Willis McGinnis Road before pulling into a barn. The driver got out and hid in the barn behind some rolls of hay. As the officer entered the barn to conduct a search, Crook ran out. Crook was subsequently captured and placed in custody. Found in Crook’s right front pocket was a plastic baggie containing an orange pill believed to be suboxone.

35 year old Joshua Ryan Cripps of Virginia Avenue, Smithville is charged with possession of methamphetamine and heroin with intent to sell or deliver. His bond is $10,000 and he will be in court January 30.

Sheriff Ray said that on December 17 a deputy responded to a location on Hodges Road, Smithville and found that Cripps had overdosed. In Cripps’ possession was a small baggie of a crystal like substance which weighed 1.14 grams that field tested positive for methamphetamine and a baggie with a powder like substance which weighed 0.18 grams that field tested positive for heroin.

20 year old Gabriel James Hesson of Oak Drive, Smithville is charged with theft of property. He was further cited for violation of the light law and failure to stop at a stop sign. His bond is $10,000 and he will make a court appearance on February 6.

Sheriff Ray said that on January 17 a deputy was traveling inbound on Highway 70 and spotted a silver four door car run a stop sign at the intersection of Evins Mill Road and Highway 70. The car also had a taillight which was not working. The officer conducted a traffic stop on East Main Street in Smithville. Hesson was driving the car. During the traffic stop central dispatch notified the officer that the car was reported stolen out of Wilson County. The car was valued at $2,500.

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