A Monterey woman was arrested for theft after trying to steal a shopping cart full of merchandise from Walmart in Smithville Tuesday, January 20
30 year old Tasha Marie Cooke is under a $5,000 bond and she will be in court February 12.
According to Smithville Police Chief Randy Caplinger, police were dispatched to Walmart in reference to a shoplifter. Upon arrival, the officer spoke with an employee who said that Cooke had loaded a shopping cart full of various merchandise and went out the front doors and into the parking lot. After being confronted, Cooke allegedly admitted that she was stealing the items for her friends. Items in the cart included flashlights, purses, and other merchandise with a total value of $1,742.
Meanwhile 35 year old Jeri Nicole Beckham is charged with eighteen counts of forgery. Her bond is $85,000. According to Chief Caplinger, Beckham allegedly wrote checks to herself from a family member’s checkbook, forging the victim’s name on the checks, and then cashing them. All eighteen checks were written in October in amounts ranging from $75 to $350 in a total amount of $3,600.
In other recent cases,
18 year old Roberto Valerio was cited for shoplifting. A Walmart employee reported to police that a man was in the sporting goods department of the store using a knife to cut open packages. The officer confronted the man, Valerio, who was found trying to empty a box containing a speaker and other equipment. He had a knife in his pocket. Valerio was accused of trying to steal $127 worth of items from Walmart.
27 year old Leslie Lawrence is charged with domestic violence. Her bond is $2,500. Chief Caplinger said police responded to a domestic violence call at a residence on Foster Road. Upon arrival the officer spoke with a man who said that Lawrence had kicked him in the face and had ripped the phone cord off the wall trying to keep him from calling for help. At the time of the arrest, Lawrence was found to be intoxicated.
31 year old Johnny Devault is charged with aggravated assault and violation of bond conditions arising from a domestic assault. His bond totals $5,000. Chief Caplinger said police were called to a Miller Road apartment on a domestic disturbance call. Upon arrival the officer heard “shouting” coming from the apartment. When he entered the residence, the officer learned that Devault and a woman had gotten into an argument that became physical. The victim’s left eye was swollen from the assault. A witness said that Devault had smacked the woman in the face several times. He was determined to have been the primary aggressor.
24 year old Jonathan Hummel is charged with inhalants. His bond is $2,500. Chief Caplinger said police were dispatched to Walmart in reference to a trespasser. The responding officer learned that the trespasser was Hummel and that he had previously been cited that day for huffing compressed air/computer cleaner. The officer found Hummel in an automobile in the parking lot allegedly committing the same offense (huffing). His speech was slurred and he appeared to be intoxicated. He was arrested and charged in the case.
20 year old Jackson Cripps is charged with evading arrest. Chief Caplinger said an officer spotted two trucks drag racing traveling west on Broad Street at speeds of over 90 miles per hour. The officer activated his blue lights and siren. He was joined in the pursuit by another city officer and a county deputy. Cripps, the driver in one of the vehicles, pulled over on Snow Hill. He was placed under arrest. Officers terminated the pursuit on the other truck after obtaining a license tag number. The driver, who was later determined to be 19 year old Ethan Byford, has also been charged with evading arrest.
31 year old Jason Stembridge has citations against him for shoplifting, simple possession of schedule VI and II drugs, and possession of drug paraphernalia. He will be in court on January 29. Chief Caplinger said police were dispatched to the Dollar General Store in reference to a shoplifter. Upon arrival the officer spoke with the store manager who had spotted Stembridge with items inside his coat sleeve. The officer confronted Stembridge who was found with items from the store on his person along with a silver coated pill container and a plastic bag with a green leafy substance believed to be marijuana. Stembridge also had a blue pill crusher in his pocket containing a straw and pills thought to be hydrocodone.
19 year old Hayle Hunt is charged with domestic assault. Her bond is $2,500. Chief Caplinger said an officer was dispatched to a residence on Braswell Lane on a domestic complaint. Upon arrival the officer learned that Hunt and her husband had gotten into an argument. The victim, who had red marks on his face, claimed that Hunt hit him. He also said that Hunt had rammed her truck into his truck. She was placed under arrest.
41 year old Gregory Wayne Cripps is charged with a second offense of driving under the influence and driving on a revoked license. His bond is $4,000 bond and he will be on court February 12. Chief Caplinger said that on Tuesday, January 6 an officer spotted Cripps driving a Nissan Altima on West Bryant Street. He stopped in the wrong lane at a stop sign. He then proceeded onto South Mountain Street , crossed the center line several items, and almost hit oncoming automobiles. The vehicle turned onto Miller Road and into the parking lot of the former popcorn factory. The officer made a traffic stop there and approached the driver, Cripps. His speech was slurred and he was unsteady on his feet. Cripps submitted to and performed poorly on field sobriety tasks. The officer learned that Cripps license was also revoked for a prior DUI. He was placed under arrest.
26 year old Jessica Renee Scruggs is cited for theft of merchandise. She will be in court on February 12. Chief Caplinger said that on Thursday, January 15 an officer was called to Walmart in reference to a shoplifter. Upon arrival the officer spoke with a store employee who saw Scruggs conceal several items in her purse and jacket. Scruggs was confronted and allegedly admitted to the theft.
29 year old Lacey Nicole Hamilton is cited for theft of merchandise. She will be in court February 15. Chief Caplinger said police were called to Walmart concerning a shoplifter. A store employee reported to the responding officer that Hamilton was observed trying to conceal several items of clothing in her purse.
18 year old McKinley Turner is cited for shoplifting. Chief Caplinger said Turner allegedly opened packages at Walmart and tried to conceal the contents on her person. When confronted she allegedly admitted to the theft. Her court date is February 12.
59 year old Debroah Jose is charged with domestic assault. Her bond is $1,500 and she will be in court February 12. Chief Caplinger said that on Saturday, January 17 at a residence on Odom Street Jose allegedly assaulted her ex-daughter in law by hitting her in the head leaving a red swollen place. Jose was determined to have been the primary aggressor and was arrested.
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