A 45 year old truck driver, hauling freight to Shiroki North America, Inc.,was arrested Friday after police found him possibly under the influence and with drug paraphernalia in the vehicle.
Smithville Police Chief Richard Jennings says James Martin Ducket of 361 Morgan Branch Road, Weaverville, North Carolina is charged with possession of drug paraphernalia. Ducket’s bond is $1,000 and his court date is May 1st.
In his report, Officer Travis Bryant states that on April 18th at 9:00 a.m., he, Officer Randy King, and K-9 Officer Bradley Tatrow responded to SW Manufacturing at 1111 West Broad Street in regard to a truck driver acting strangely and possibly under the influence of an unknown substance. Contact was made with the driver and he identified himself as James M. Ducket.
Officer Bryant states that while the officers were talking to the driver, it became apparent that he was under the influence of an unknown substance. The officers asked for permission to search the truck and they were given consent. The K-9 was brought in and the dog hit on a bag in the vehicle. Upon further investigation, a small leather bag was found containing one glass pipe, two spoons, and several resale baggies that were empty. Several empty straws, other baggies and medicine bottle containers were also found in the truck. The Tennessee Highway Patrol was requested to check the driver’s logs and they were found to be inaccurate.
Meanwhile, in another case, 37 year old Michael Edward Brown of 6763 Old Mill Hill Road, Dowelltown is charged with theft of property over $10,000 and theft of property over $500.
Chief Jennings says Brandy Fitts reported to police that she had spent the night last Thursday visiting her cousin at Royal Oak Apartments, 670 Miller Road and that when she awoke the next morning she discovered that someone had dumped the contents from her purse, taken her keys, $500 in cash, and had stolen her 2007 Plymouth van which was parked outside.
Fitts identified Brown as a possible suspect in the theft, since he had also been at her cousin’s house Thursday night but was gone Friday morning.
Police recovered the vehicle on Friday in the city and arrested Brown on Monday.
Brown is under a $12,500 bond and his court date is May 29th
The case was investigated by Detective Sergeant Jerry Hutchins, Jr.
In another case, 43 year old David Spencer Vaughn of 714 South College Street is charged with theft of property over $5,000, theft under $500, and 14 counts of fraudulent use of a credit card.
Vaughn is accused of stealing a 2000 Honda Passport SUV and a credit card belonging to his father, Eugene Vaughn of 714 South College Street. The alleged thefts occurred on Monday, April 14th.
Vaughn was arrested Saturday at the home of a friend on Restview Avenue.
His bond is $42,500 and he will be in court on the charges May 29th.
The case was investigated by Detective Sergeant Jerry Hutchins, Jr.
Meanwhile, 26 year old Josh Wayne Goff of 416 Mocking Bird Drive, Dunlap is charged with a third offense of driving on a suspended license
Officer Matt Holmes, in his report, states that he observed Goff driving south on Short Mountain Street in a Honda Accord on Monday morning. Another officer advised Holmes that Goff did not have a valid drivers license. Officer Holmes stopped the vehicle on Odom Street and discovered that Goff’s license was suspended for failure to satisfy citations. Goff’s bond is $3,000 and his court date is April 30th.

The DeKalb County Sheriff’s Department has picked up two more people on drug charges who were named in Grand Jury sealed indictments this month. Other arrests have also been made within the past week.
Sheriff Patrick Ray says 41 year old Melissa Jean Petty of Banks Pisgah Road, Smithville was arrested Tuesday on a sealed indictment for sale of a schedule II drug (Dilaudid), delivery of a schedule II drug (Dilaudid), attempt to sell a schedule II drug (Dilaudid) and attempt to deliver a schedule II drug (Dilaudid). Total bond was set at $25,000 and her court date is set for June 20th.
Meanwhile, Sheriff Ray says on Thursday, April 3rd which was the night of the drug roundup, deputies and detectives went to Petty’s residence on Banks Pisgah Road to arrest her. Upon arrival, officers saw 25 year old Ashley Jerome Ferrell of Banks Pisgah Road with a shotgun standing in Petty’s yard. After retrieving the shotgun from Ferrell, officers learned that the gun was stolen in DeKalb County. Ferrell also had in his possession a pill believed to be methadone, rolling papers and a small amount of marijuana. Detectives also noticed a strong odor of marijuana coming from the residence. Detectives executed a search warrant at Petty’s residence and found a stolen computer, another computer with the serial numbers scratched off, and drug paraphernalia (rolling papers and a marijuana grinder). Ferrell was charged with simple possession of a schedule VI drug (marijuana), simple possession of a schedule II drug (methadone), possession of drug paraphernalia, and possession of stolen property. Ferrell’s bond was set at $6,500 and his court date is June 5th.
27 year old Randy Allan Caldwell of Young Ridge Road, Sparta was arrested Friday on a sealed indictment for sale of a schedule II drug (dilaudid) and delivery of a schedule II drug (dilaudid). Caldwell’s bond was set at $25,000 and his court date is June 20th.
24 year old Johnny Lynn DeVault of Talpha Drive, Dowelltown was arrested Thursday for DUI and evading arrest. Sheriff Ray says deputies had a state warrant on DeVault and spotted him on Highway 70 West. Officers tried to pull over DeVault, but he did not stop and continued on for approximately one mile until reaching his residence on Talpha Drive. After DeVault pulled into his driveway deputies took him into custody. The officers also noticed a strong odor of alcohol on DeVault’s person and administered field sobriety tasks which DeVault failed. DeVault was arrested for DUI, evading arrest, and he was issued a written a citation for failure to comply with the implied consent law. DeVault was placed under a $2,500 bond and his court date is May 15th
21 year old Timothy James Howard of McCledehon Road, Watertown was arrested Sunday on Highway 53 in Alexandria after deputies, who had knowledge of Howard’s Driver’s License being suspended, spotted him operating a motor vehicle. Howard was charged with driving on a suspended driver’s license and his bond was set at $2,000. His court date is May 14th.

A total of 155 students at DeKalb County High School will receive their diplomas during graduation exercises Friday, May 23 at 7:00 p.m. on the high school football field.
The program will feature remarks by the Valedictorian, a Class Officer, and Principal Kathy Hendrix. The prestigious White Rose and Citizenship Awards will also be presented to three outstanding members of the class. Diplomas will be presented to each graduate by Director of Schools Mark Willoughby. The DCHS Chorus is also expected to perform.
The honor students will also be recognized including the 2008 Valedictorian Nicholas Winchester and the Salutatorian Adam Emerson.
Other students earning “Highest Distinction” with a grade point average of 3.8 to 4.0 in addition to Winchester and Emerson include John Malone, Tayla Turner, Lacey Beshearse, Jessica Harney, Dennis Young, Jessica Dyer, Tyler Woods, and Victoria Martin.
Students earning “High Distinction” with a grade point average of 3.6 to 3.79 include Mykel Cantrell, Daniel Foutch, Steven McCormick, Kayla Fish, Colton Rhody,Dustin Hood, Tyler Robinson, Travis Woodward, Jessica Paschal, Dustin Jennings, Joshua Cantrell, and Dustin Estes.
Those earning “Distinction” with a grade point average of 3.2 to 3.59 include Joseph Carroll, Alisha Billings-Turner, Brittney Armour, Andrew Collier, Cody Thomas, Lauren Hansard, Natasha Hendrixson, Lindsy Ervin, Chase Ferrell, Katie Herman, Emily Summers, Anna Marie Walker, Roger Curtis, Jake Hoover, Justin Duke, Geraldine Wilson, Carla Barnes, Justin Stewart, Anthonique Tubbs, James Finley III, Zachery Rowland, Trisha Neiberger, Grant Goodwin, Jeffrey Cantrell, Joshua Gilbert, Chase Cantrell, Michael Elliott, Corey Turner, Lacey Parchman, Jacob Moore, Amber Evans, Shaun Reed, Justin Lattimore, and Jeffery Woodside.
Members of the DCHS Class of 2008 are as follows:
Kayla Nicole Adams, Kristen Danielle Adcock, Brittney Nicole Armour, Linda Sue Bain
Brenda Nicole Bain, Caleb W. Baines, Carla Marie Barnes, Casey N. Belcher, Lacey Racquel Beshearse, Dustin James Bogle, Joseph Michael Bowen, Mason L. Brandt, Carl Bratcher, Nicholas Byrge
Abby Lauren Cantrell, Alexandria Catherine Cantrell, Brittney Maxine Cantrell, Chase Wyndom Cantrell, Jeffrey Tyler Cantrell, Jerry D. Cantrell, Joshua Ray Cantrell, Mykel Anthony Cantrell, Joseph Edward Carroll, Kirby Noel Close, Andrew Brent Collier, Kayla M. Conners, Tosha M. Cook, Leah Danielle Cooper, Brittney Lynn Corona, Corey L. Cripps, William Tyler Cripps, Casey W. Curtis, Roger Dale Curtis.
James T. Davis, Scott A. Dean, Brandon Lee Dillon, Justin Vaughn Duke, Jessica Lynn Dyer
Jeremy Daniel Eakes, Heather Nichole Eley, Michael Andrew Elliott, Adam E. Emerson, Lindsy Shae Ervin, Dustin T. Estes, Amber Nicole Evans
Chase Ferrell, James Finley III, Kayla Michelle Fish, Daniel R.H. Foutch, Tiffany Danielle Frazier
Jacqueline Marie Gibbs, James Matthew Gibbs, Joshua Clay Gilbert, Misty Dawn Gingerich, Grant Joe Mason Goodwin, Hermenejildo Gopar Ordaz, Kristina Renee Gray, Brittney Nicole Gregory, Michael Tyler Griffin
Daniel Steven Haggard, Brandon Lee Hancock, Lauren E. Hansard, James Alan Harden, Jessica Lynn Harney, Alicia M. Hedtke, Natasha Renee Hendrixson, Katie Allison Herman, Dustin S. Hood, Jake M. Hoover, Joshua D. Howard, Johathon Wade Hummel, Thomas C. Hutchins
Dustin Benjamin Willard Jennings
Cody T. Keaton, Timothy M. Kosirog
Justin Ryan Haston Lattimore, Dustin Lee, John Phillip Leichtfuss, Andrea N. Leon, Bridgette D. Linder
John Weston Malone, Adam Manning, Victoria Hope Martin, Jacob Terry Maynard, Sarah Elisabeth McBride, Steven Daniel McCormick, Matthew W. Melton, Shane Tyler Mims, Jacob Taylor Moore, Casey Patrick Myrick.
Samantha Leigh Napier, Trisha Nicole Neiberger, Maverick D. Nokes, Brianna Katelyn Nolton, Kayla Elizabeth Norris, Amie Nioka Norton
Joshua M. Owens
Jennifer Louise Pack, Bray Page, Lacey Brooke Parchman, Jessica Danielle Paschal, Christopher Lee Patrick, Collin L. Patterson, Terry Layne Pedigo, Dustin A. Pedigo, Keshia L. Poss, Matthew Plumb, Jeffery Ryan Puckett
Manuela Quezada
Nicholas Jordan Ramsey, Jessica Dawn Ray, Shaun N. Reed, Colton M. Rhody, Kaley Ann Robinson, Tyler McKay Robinson, Jennifer Lynn Rogers, Zack Rowland, Juan Rivera Ruiz, Christopher William Rupp,
Adrianna Brelle Seals, Benjamin McKenley Sears, Kristel Marie Shumake-Bush, Thomas Paul Smith, Corey A. Snyders, Colt Stewart, Crystal Renee Stibil, Emily Kay Summers, Randy Summers
Cody Ray Thomas, Brian McKinley Trapp, Mary Margaret Tripp, Anthonique Eugenia Tubbs, Corey L. Turner, Alisha Kay Billings-Turner, Tayla Bree Turner, Amber Rose Tyler
Justin Vanatta
Annamarie Walker, Spencer Wallace, Susan Princess Renee Walls, Natasha Ann White, Zachary Paul Wilbur, Calvin J. Wilkerson, Mary S.Williams, Jessica Danielle Willis, Dustin Tyler Wilson, Geraldine Anna Wilson, Nicholas Colt Winchester, Tyler James Woods, Jeffery Kevin Woodside, Travis R. Woodward, Jonathan D. Wright,
D.J. Yarbrough, Dennis Ryan Young, and Tara Nicole Young

A 23 year old Smithville man was injured in a crash Thursday night around 10:48 p.m. on the Jefferson Road.
Trooper Dewaine Jennings of the Tennessee Highway Patrol says Michael Frederick Teachout was traveling west on Jefferson Road in a 1996 Honda Civic when he left his lane of travel, entered the eastbound lane, exited the roadway to the left, slid sideways and made an angle impact with a large tree. Teachout was partially ejected out of the passenger side window.
Teachout was airlifted from the scene by a Life Force helicopter ambulance and flown to Erlanger Hospital in Chattanooga.
Others on the scene providing assistance included DeKalb EMS, the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Department, and the DeKalb County Volunteer Fire Department.
Trooper Jennings says Teachout has been released from the hospital.
He says speed and alcohol were contributing factors in the accident and charges are pending.

The Smithville Police Department made two drug arrests Thursday.
28 year old Crystal L. Thompson of 633 Highland Drive is charged with simple possession.
In his report, Officer Matt Farmer states that he was called to a disturbance at the Dairy Queen in Smithville on Thursday at 10:37 p.m. Upon arrival, the officer approached a female (Thompson), who was involved in the disturbance, and noticed that she kept putting her hands in her jacket pockets. He asked her to pull her hands from her jacket pockets. When she did, a small plastic bag containing a green leafy substance believed to be marijuana, fell out. During a search subsequent to arrest, the officer also found on Thompson two empty green capsules with residue, believed to be morphine, labeled Kadian 100 milligram. Further charges may be pending.
Thompson is under a $1,000 bond and her court date is May 1st.
Meanwhile in a separate case, Smithville Police arrested 18 year old Adam Colton Ware of 45 Chapel Hill Road, McMinnville and charged him with simple possession of a schedule VI drug and possession of drug paraphernalia.
K-9 officer Bradley Tatrow, in his report, states that on Thursday at 11:53 p.m. he observed a vehicle traveling on Broadstreet which did not have a license tag on it and the driver appeared not to be wearing a seatbelt. After stopping the vehicle and talking to the driver, Officer Tatrow says he smelled a strong odor of marijuana coming from the vehicle. As he looked in the backseat where passengers were seated, he saw a package of rolling papers sticking out from under one the passenger’s legs. Upon receiving consent to search, Officer Tatrow found a baggie of a green leafy substance believed to be marijuana in the floor board in the back seat. The package was found directly under where the back seat passenger (Ware) was sitting.
Ware is under a $2,000 bond and he will be in court on the charges April 24th.

A strong earthquake that rattled parts of southern Illinois and Indiana early Friday morning was felt in DeKalb County.
The quake, given a preliminary magnitude of 5.4, occurred about 6 miles from Mount Carmel, Illinois, 66 miles from Evansville, Indiana and about 131 miles east of St. Louis, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. It took place about 2 miles underground and struck about 4:36 a.m.
Clata Redmon, who resides on Barnes Mill Road in the Jefferson Community, says she was awakened by popping sounds in the house. “It was about ten minutes til five this morning when I was asleep and something woke me up. It sounded like a popping sound here at the house. I decided to get up an investigate but I didn’t find anything. It only lasted maybe three or four seconds. When I got up and turned the television on I noticed they said that in Evansville, Indiana there had been an earthquake so I realized that’s what I experienced here. That’s the only thing I know would make the house pop like that. The house didn’t shake, it was just popping.”
Central dispatch reported receiving a few calls from concerned persons inquiring about what was happening.
The quake occurred in the Illinois basin-Ozark dome region that covers parts of Indiana, Kentucky, Illinois, Missouri, and Arkansas and stretches from Indianapolis and St. Louis to Memphis, according to the USGS.