Sheriff’s Department Finds Meth Lab While Serving Warrant, Makes Arrest in the Case

Officers of the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Department found a meth lab while serving a warrant at a residence on Evins Mill Road last week.
31 year old Danny Ray Murphy of Shady Drive, Smithville is charged with the initiation of a process to manufacture methamphetamine. His bond is $50,000 and he will be in court on September 13.
Sheriff Patrick Ray said that on Thursday, August 30 sheriff’s department deputies and a drug detective went to the residence on Evins Mill Road to execute a warrant on someone there. As officers arrived, they saw three or four people running from the home into the woods. While officers were searching the property, Murphy emerged from the field. As the drug detective spoke with Murphy, a deputy saw smoke coming from the field where Murphy had been and alerted the detective, who went to investigate and found a meth lab. Two, one pot bottles and numerous components were also found along with empty Mucinex D blister packs. Murphy’s car was searched and a bag containing an empty draino can was found inside the trunk and an empty box of Mucinex D. Murphy was taken to the jail for an interview and but he told the drug detective that he had nothing to say at that time.
35 year old James Allen Hesson of Bethel Road, Smithville is charged with violation of the sex offender registry law. His bond is $50,000 and he will be in court September 13. Sheriff Ray said that on Friday, August 31, Hesson violated the sex offender registry law by being on school property where children were present. Hesson was told to leave the school grounds due to his being a sex offender and that he was not to be within one thousand feet of the school property line. Shortly thereafter, Hesson was found in the back yard of property adjoining the high school where he was watching children at play during a sports event after regular school hours. Sheriff Ray said that Hesson is well aware that he is not to be near school property
31 year old Virginia Dawn Ayala of Circle Drive, Dowelltown is charged with a second offense of driving under the influence and a second offense of driving on a revoked license. Her bond is $6,000 and she will be in court September 13. She was further issued citations for simple possession of methamphetamine and hydrocodone. Sheriff Ray said that a sheriff’s department drug detective observed a vehicle traveling in the middle of the roadway on East Bryant Street in Smithville. The automobile was stopped on Walker Drive. Ayala was the driver. Upon speaking with her, the detective noticed that her speech was very slow and slurred. She could not keep her eyes open. Ayala submitted to but performed poorly on several field sobriety tasks. She was very unsteady on her feet. Ayala submitted to a blood alcohol test. She had a prior DUI against her on April 25, 2008. A check of her license showed that they were revoked for DUI. Her prior offense of driving on revoked was on July 8, 2009. A female correctional officer was summoned to the scene to search Ayala and found on her a plastic baggie containing one hydrocodone pill and another baggie which held a white rock substance that field tested positive for methamphetamine.
42 year old Gregory Eugene Neal of Sparta Highway, Sparta is charged with a second offense of driving under the influence, leaving the scene of an accident with property damage, and theft under $500 for possession of stolen property. His bond is $9,000 and he will be in court on September 20. He was further issued citations for violation of the implied consent law, violation of the financial responsibility law (no insurance), and failing to change the address on his license.
Sheriff Ray said that on Saturday, September 1 a sheriff’s department deputy was called to investigate a hit and run traffic accident on Hurricane Bridge, in which one vehicle exiting the bridge had sideswiped another stopped at the traffic light there. The outside mirror on the victim’s automobile was gone and the driver’s side exterior was scratched from the impact. The officer spotted the vehicle that left the scene and stopped it at Northside Elementary School. Neal was the driver. The outside mirror on the driver’s side of Neal’s vehicle was broken. Upon speaking with Neal, the deputy noticed that his speech and movements were slow and he was unsteady on his feet as he got out of the vehicle to perform field sobriety tasks. He submitted to but performed poorly on all tasks. He refused to submit to a blood alcohol/drug test. Neal did not have any proof of insurance and the officer learned that Neal had moved but hadn’t changed the address on his license. Meanwhile, when a computer check was made of the tag on Neal’s vehicle, it revealed that the tag had been stolen. Sheriff Ray said that a further investigation found that the tag was stolen on the same day, September 1 on East Broad Street. Earlier in the day, Smithville Police Officer Travis Bryant had taken a report from the victim who reported that the tag was removed from his truck.
28 year old Michael Brandon Redmon of Holcomb Road, McMinnville is charged with aggravated burglary and violation of an order of protection. His bond is $13,500 and he will be in court on September 13. Sheriff Ray said that on Sunday, August 26 Redmon allegedly entered the residence of a family member on McMinnville Highway with the intent to commit a theft and assault. Entry was made by breaking out glass in a door. He then kicked open the door. Sheriff Ray said Redmon has an order of protection against him and is aware that he is not to be near this residence. The victim said he has tried to avoid Redmon because he is afraid of being assaulted by him. Redmon broke into the home, even while he was being ordered by the victim to leave.
45 year old William Elton Eisenmann of Hurricane Creek Road, Woodbury is charged with criminal impersonation and his bond is $2,500. He is being held without bond for failure to appear in court on a probation violation in General Sessions Court. He will be in court on September 20.
According to Sheriff Ray, a deputy responded to a call of a suspicious man in the Liberty area on Sunday, September 2. Central dispatch informed the officer that the man was last seen on Tubb Street. The deputy spotted the man walking along Highway 70 in Liberty and knew him to be Eisenmann. He also knew that Eisenmann had warrants against him. The officer spoke with the man but he said his name was actually Mark Anthony Eisenmann and that his date of birth was June 10, 1983. After the deputy was provided a booking sheet, Eisenmann confessed that he had lied about his real name.
32 year old Cory Lee Crabtree of Rosewood Lane, Smithville is charged with driving under the influence. His bond is $1,000 and he will be in court September 20. He was also issued citations for failing to heed a traffic control device and violation of the implied consent law. Sheriff Ray said that on Sunday, September 2 a deputy saw a vehicle run a stop sign at the intersection of Jefferson and Keltonburg Road. The automobile then crossed the fog line and center line several times. The deputy stopped the vehicle, which was driven by Crabtree who had a strong odor of alcohol on his person. Crabtree admitted to having been drinking. The officer asked him if he thought he had drank too much to drive. Crabtree’s response was “yes”. Crabtree submitted to but performed poorly on several field sobriety tasks. He was very unsteady on his feet and he refused to submit to a blood alcohol test.

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