Three Men Charged with Theft of Potted Trees from Nursery

The DeKalb County Sheriff’s Department has arrested three men for allegedly stealing potted trees from a local nursery.
Sheriff Patrick Ray says 25 year old Bradley Wayne Ferrell of Tubbs Street, Liberty; 23 year old Michael Andrew Snyders of West Main Street, Smithville; and 34 year old Kevin Donald Bogle of Barnes Mill Road, Smithville are each charged with theft of property under $500. Bond for them was set at $1,500 each and they will appear in court on May 28th.
Sheriff Ray says Thursday, May 14th, a deputy was on patrol on South Tittsworth Road, Smithville when he spotted a truck weaving in the roadway. Upon stopping the vehicle, the officer talked with Ferrell, who was the driver, and noticed a smell of an alcoholic beverage on Ferrell’s person. Ferrell submitted to field sobriety tasks which he passed.
The deputy then noticed several potted trees in the bed of the truck and also discovered that the trees had a label on them from one of the local nurseries on Short Mountain Highway. Ferrell told the officer that he had purchased the trees from a man and provided the man’s name. The deputy called the man but he denied selling any trees to Ferrell. Sheriff Ray says Ferrell provided several other names but every time the deputy checked, there was no name or listed phone number for any of those persons.
The officer then talked with Snyders and Bogle, two men who were passengers with Ferrell, but they also told several conflicting stories about the trees. After checking with the local nursery, it was determined that these three men had scaled a fence on Herman Road and took the potted trees.
Meanwhile, in another case, Sheriff Ray says deputies were dispatched to the area of Jacobs Pillar Road on Wednesday, May 13th to answer a possible drunk driver call. Officers saw the vehicle running a stop sign at the intersection of Jacobs Pillar and Turner Road and upon stopping the automobile, found 37 year old Christopher Dale Cantrell of King Ridge Road, Dowelltown in an intoxicated state. Cantrell had slurred speech, was unsteady, and had a smell of alcohol on his person. When Deputies asked Cantrell to perform field sobriety tasks, he refused. Cantrell also refused to take a blood alcohol test. Cantrell was charged with driving under the influence and issued citations for running a stop sign and violation of the implied consent law. Cantrell’s bond was set at $1,500 and he will appear in court on May 28th.
Sheriff Patrick Ray says this last week’s Grand Jury sealed indictment round up where drug defendants and other criminal violators were arrested was a big success. He asks that if you know of someone who is dealing drugs or involved in any illegal activity, to take advantage of the crime tip line or call him directly at the Jail. Sheriff Ray says “We want people to report illegal activity in the county. What some people might think of as insignificant information might be an important clue in solving a crime.” The crime tip line is 464-6400. All calls are kept confidential.”