Smithville Police are asking for your help in solving a theft and vandalism at the Habitat for Humanity house under construction at 110 Hayes Street. The incident , which occurred sometime during the night of Wednesday, August 18th, was discovered the next morning.
Police are reporting that someone broke into a trailer at the work site and stole numerous tools. The intruder(s) also made entry to the house, causing damage to the back door. Some tools inside the house were also stolen. Taken were a 16 foot aluminum ladder, cordless drill w/charger, Bosch air compressor, 25 foot air hose, 50 foot extension cord, Delta Miter box and Makita circular saw.
Sharon Evans, Vice President of Habitat for Humanity of DeKalb County, says the back door and door frame of the home had to be replaced as well as the door locks. She says Habitat owned some of the tools that were stolen while others belonged to volunteers. In spite of the vandalism and theft, Evans says the construction is continuing uninterrupted and the home should be finished by the first week in September.
Meanwhile in a separate case, police are investigating a purse snatching incident at a local business on Saturday night, August 21st. According to police, a woman leaving work at EL Marichi Mexican Store stated that when she went to her car at approximately 8:55 p.m. an Hispanic male 5’6 to 5’7, thinly built, around 135 to 140 pounds with a red and white striped shirt and a blue bandana across his face demanded that she hand over her purse. Before she could respond, the man grabbed her purse and ran across the parking lot to a maroon SUV and jumped in the passenger side. The vehicle then headed east on Broad Street.
Anyone with information on these or other offenses is asked to please contact the Smithville Police Department at 597-8210 or the Tip Line at 464-6046.
Any information received that will help the Smithville Police solve any criminal offense will be greatly appreciated. All information is confidential
Meanwhile, 29 year old Jennifer Ball of East Bryant Street was arrested by Officer James Cornelius for theft of services on Friday, August 20th. Discount Taxi Cab from Cookeville picked up Ball at Craw Daddy’s Bar in Cookeville and brought her back home at 223 East Bryant Street. Upon advising Ms. Ball that the fare was $45.00 she stated she didn’t have the money and refused to pay. Bond for Ball is $1500 and her court date is August 26th.
Heather Ann Yoskovich of Holiday Haven Road was recently arrested by Officer Scott Davis for shoplifting. An employee of Food Lion observed Yoskovich place several items of merchandise in her purse in an attempt to deprive the business of payment. Her court date is September 30th.
49 year old Roy D Atnip of King Ridge Road was recently arrested for driving on a revoked license. Officer Scott Davis saw a dark colored Chevy S-10 parked near the gas pumps at Delta Express and the tags on the vehicle bore the same letters and numbers as were given out on a BOLO or Be on the Lookout for a possible drunk driver. Officer Davis made contact with the driver, Atnip, who stated that his license were revoked for DUI. Atnip’s vehicle was seized by the Smithville Police Department. His bond is $1,500 and his court date is September 30th.
54 year old Mark Eugene West of Prater Road was arrested recently by Officer Matt Farmer for driving on a suspended license. West was stopped for speeding in a school zone. A computer check revealed his license were suspended for failure to satisfy a citation. Bond for West is $1,000 and his court date is September 15th.
33 year old Timothy Corley Allen of Alexandria was arrested on Tuesday, August 24th for public intoxication. Officer Scott Davis was dispatched to Hardees to investigate a call about a man who was passed out at one of the tables. Officer Davis awoke the man, Allen, and found that he had slurred speech and he was unsteady on his feet. Bond for Allen is $1,000 and his court date is September 30th.
54 year old Linda Gail Phillips of South Mountain Street was arrested on Wednesday, August 25th for theft by K-9 Officer Bradley Tatrow. Phillips admitted to removing items from FZ Webb & Sons and taking them to the Treasure Chest to try and sell. Bond for Phillips is $1,000 and her court date is September 30th.
33 year old Amy Michelle Davis of Liberty was arrested by Corporal Travis Bryant and 33 year old Eureatha Cripps of Cripps Lane was cited for theft on Wednesday, August 25th. An employee of Rite Aid saw Davis take several items into the restroom and then leave the store. The witness stated she found the empty containers in the restroom, left there by Ms. Davis. The items were found in Ms. Davis’ possession upon being arrested. Ms. Cripps was cited for assisting Ms. Davis in the theft. Bond for Davis is $1,000 and the court date for both is September 16th.
43 year old Robert Ernest Rochefort of Puckett Point Road was arrested Thursday, August 26th for vandalism. Corporal Bryant saw a man, Rochefort, run into the roadway on West Broad Street and pick up a large rock and run to the other side of the street where he disposed of it. At the same time, Corporal Bryant was flagged down by Sandra Clark who informed him that Rochefort had just thrown a rock at her car as she was traveling down the roadway causing damage to the side of her vehicle. Bond for Rochefort is $1,000 and his court date is September 16th.
27 year old Courtney Anne Paris of Potts Camp Road was arrested on Thursday, August 26th by Officer Bradley Tatrow and 27 year old Jeremy Daniel Loader of Bethel Road and Samantha Bee Florida of West Broad Street were cited for possession of drug paraphernalia. The Smithville Police Department was assisting probation officers on a home visit at a local motel where Ms. Paris gave officers consent to search. In a drawer in the bathroom officers found two used hypodermic needles and four cut straws with residue in them. Bond for Paris is $1,000 and the court date for all three is September 30th.
The police department will also be conducting sobriety checkpoints and enhanced traffic enforcement on Friday September 3rd and Saturday September 4th in an ongoing effort to provide safer roadways for the public. The department will continue to work with the Governors Highway Safety Office in an effort to keep our roadways safe.
The Governor’s Highway Safety Office (GHSO) is Tennessee’s advocate for highway safety. This office works with law enforcement, judicial personnel and community advocates to coordinate activities and initiatives relating to the human behavioral aspects of highway safety.
The GHSO’s mission is to develop, execute and evaluate programs to reduce the number of fatalities, injuries and related economic losses resulting from traffic crashes on Tennessee’s roadways. The office works in tandem with the National Highway Safety Administration to implement programs focusing on occupant protection, impaired driving, speed enforcement, truck and school bus safety, pedestrian and bicycle safety and crash data collection and analysis. Programs administered by the Governor’s Highway Safety Office are 100% federally funded.
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