Smithville Police were called to Wal-mart on a shoplifting complaint Monday night and arrested two people.
Lieutenant Steven Leffew says Jared S. Atnip of Smithville was charged with theft under $500, possession of a schedule IV and schedule II controlled substance, and possession of drug paraphernalia.
Lisa Piles, wanted on a worthless check warrant out of Warren County, was also arrested.
Lieutenant Leffew says on Monday night at about 9:02 p.m., Smithville Police Officers Randy King and Brad Tatrow responded to Wal-mart in answer to a shop lifter complaint. Wal-mart employees suspected two females of shoplifting. Officers ran a warrants check on the two women, Lisa Piles and Patsy Estes and learned that Piles was wanted in Warren County for a worthless check, but there was no evidence of shoplifting by either of the women. Piles was taken into custody but Estes was released.
According to Lieutenant Leffew, during the investigation of Piles and Estes, the Wal-mart manager approached the officers and advised that there was another person in the store suspected of shoplifting.
The manager reported that the man, Atnip, had allegedly stuffed some things into his clothing. Lieutenant Leffew says when the officers approached Atnip, they noticed that he appeared to be intoxicated, but he denied having any Wal-mart merchandise on him. Atnip began emptying his pockets and did not produce any merchandise. However, when the officers conducted a pat down search of Atnip, they found some Wal-mart merchandise inside his pants. They also found a syringe, a tourniquet, and a small silver container with pills believed to be Xanax and Dilaudid.
Atnip was taken into custody and charged in the case.
Author Archive: Dwayne Page
Teddy Dwight Foutch
54 year old Teddy Dwight Foutch of Smithville died Sunday evening at Erlanger Hospital in Chattanooga. He was a retired employee of Whirlpool. The funeral will be Tuesday at 3:00 p.m. at the New Life United Pentecostal Church, where he was a member. Dwayne Cornelius and Terry Arnold will officiate and burial will be in DeKalb Memorial Gardens. Visitation will be Monday from 2:00 p.m. until 9:00 p.m. and Tuesday from 10:00 a.m. until the service at 3:00 p.m. All visitation will be at the church. He is survived by his wife, Libby Foutch of Smithville. A son, Michael and his wife Niki Foutch of Liberty. Step-sons, Brent and his wife Lacy Arnold and Brandon Arnold of Smithville. Grandchildren, Matthey and Taylor Foutch and Calen and Jackson Arnold. His mother, Bobbie Chapman of Alexandria. His father and step-mother, Jimmy and Shirley Foutch of Alexandria. A sister, Faye and her husband William Frazier of Liberty. A half sister, Monica and her husband Wendell Fowler of Gordonsville. Several nieces and nephews also survive. DeKalb Funeral Chapel is in charge of the arrangements.
Michael Don Hall
47 year old Michael Don Hall of Watertown died Sunday at his residence. He was an employee of Wilson Post. He was born in Butler, Alabama, graduated from Watertown High School, and he attended MTSU. The funeral will be Tuesday at 2:00 p.m. at Hunter Funeral Home in Watertown. William York will officiate and burial will be in the Jones Hill Cemetery. Visitation will be Monday from 4:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. and prior to the service on Tuesday. He is survived by his wife, Pamela York Hall. His parents are J.D. and Becky Hall of Lebanon. A sister, Becky Jo and her husband Lynn Vantrease of Lebanon. Brothers, Steve and his wife Marilyn Hall and Pat and his wife Miranda Hall all of Tennessee Ridge. Nieces and nephews, A.J., Holly, and Joey Hall, Chris and Stephanie Vantrease, and Danielle Hall. Hunter Funeral Home in Watertown is in charge of the arrangements.
Elsie Mai Choate
85 year old Elsie Mai Choate of Mount Juliet and formerly of Smithville died Sunday at the Mount Juliet Healthcare Center. She was a retired nurse at Wlliam’s Nursing Home and a member of the Emmanuel Church of Christ. The funeral will be Tuesday at 2:00 p.m. at the Love-Cantrell Funeral Home. Burial will be in DeKalb Memorial Gardens. Visitation will be Monday from 11:00 a.m. until 8:00 p.m. and Tuesday from 10:00 a.m. until the time of the service at 2:00 p.m. She was preceded in death by her parents, Aubrey Cridner and Nancy Florance Chapman Martin; three husbands, Charlie Hendrix, Benjamin Clark, and Nick Choate; two daughters, Nancy Inman and Myrtle Turnage; two grandchildren, Steven Ellis and Allen Brown Inman, Jr.; three sisters, Nonnie Hawkins, Cornelia Braswell, and Geneva Wooden; and two brothers, George and Aubrey D. Martin. Survivors include a daughter, Magdalene and her husband Freddy Ellis of Mount Juliet. One son, Billy Joe and his wife Sylvia Hendrix of Milan. Fifteen grandchildren, several great grandchildren and great great grandchildren. One sister, Francis and her husband Lewis Foster of Smithville and several nieces and nephews. Love-Cantrell Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.
Four Arrested by Sheriff’s Department Since Wednesday
The DeKalb County Sheriff’s Department has arrested four people since last Wednesday on various charges.
41 year old Dwayne Scott Massengail of Barnes Mill Road, Smithville was charged Wednesday with a first offense of driving under the influence.
Sheriff Patrick Ray says deputies received a call on Keltonburg Road and observed Massengail driving. After stopping Massengail, officers noticed a strong smell of alcohol on his person. After performing and failing field sobriety tasks, Massengail was placed under arrest for DUI. His bond was set at $1,500 and his court date is February 21st.
Meanwhile, on Thursday, 22 year old Joshua William Thomas of High Street, Alexandria was arrested on a violation of probation warrant. Thomas is also listed as a sex offender from DeKalb County with a “Homeless” address. Deputies found that Thomas was residing at 105 High Street in Alexandria where he had been staying since November 8th. Sheriff Ray says Thomas was also charged with violation of the sex offender registry for not listing the address where he has been residing. Thomas’ bond was set at $11,000 and his court date is set for February 21st.
On Friday, 51 year old Johnny W. Trapp of Arrowhead Drive, Smithville was arrested for a fifth offense of driving under the influence and violation of the habitual motor offender law. Sheriff Ray says deputies responded to a call on Arrowhead Road to investigate a vandalism to a residence where someone had broken out a bedroom window. The victim gave the officers the identity of the suspect and they later spotted his vehicle, stopped it, and found Trapp to be the driver. Deputies noticed a strong smell of alcohol on Trapp’s person and asked him to perform field sobriety tasks which he performed poorly. The officers placed Trapp under arrest for a fifth offense of driving under the influence and also charged him with violation of the habitual motor offender law, an offense for which he had been convicted in 2000 in Warren County. Trapp was also charged with vandalism of the window. Trapp’s bond was set at $12,500 and his court date is set for February 21st.
On Saturday, 36 year old Micheal Joseph Foster of King Ridge Road, Dowelltown was charged with no driver’s license and theft of property over $500. Sheriff Ray says on February 4th, Foster allegedly took $850 from a purse at a residence on Hurricane Ridge Road, Dowelltown. Then on February 7th, Foster was stopped on Gentry Avenue in Smithville for a traffic violation and was found to have no driver’s license. Foster’s bond was set at $5,000 and his court date is February 21st.
Rena Bogle Johnson
38 year old Rena Bogle Johnson of Smithville died Friday night at Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville. She was a homemaker and a member of the Church of God. The funeral will be Tuesday at 1:00 p.m. at DeKalb Funeral Chapel. B.J. Thomason and Larry Briggs will officiate and burial will be in the Snow Hill Methodist Cemetery. Visitation will be Monday from 11:00 a.m. until 9:00 p.m. and Tuesday from 9:00 a.m. until the service at 1:00 p.m. She was preceded in death by her parents, William Howard Bogle and Ofallon Bryant Byford. Survivors include a son, Josh Tate of Smithville. A daughter, Tori Tate of Smithville. Sisters, Linda Nokes of Smithville and Alice Beech of Atlanta, Georgia. Brothers, Keith Bogle of Murfreesboro and Billy Bogle of Smithville. A close friend, Trish Durham. DeKalb Funeral Chapel is in charge of the arrangements. The family has asked that donations be made to the Rena Johnson Memorial Fund in memory of Rena, in lieu of flowers.
Linda Taylor
51 year old Linda Taylor of McMinnville died Friday at Generations Health Care Center. She was a homemaker. The funeral will be Tuesday at 10:00 a.m. at the Marshall & Erlewein Funeral Home in Dublin, Indiana. Burial will be in South Lawn Cemetery in Dublin. Visitation will be Sunday from 11:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m. at Love-Cantrell Funeral Home. She was preceded in death by her father, Marvin Dungan. She is survived by her husband, Thomas “Ernie” Taylor of McMinnville. Her mother, Juanita Dungan of Indiana. Four children, Jerry Taylor of Manchester, Melissa Deason of Murfreesboro, David Taylor of Manchester, and James Taylor of Manchester. Two brothers, Tim Dungan of Arkansas and Doug Dungan of Missouri. One sister, Penny Lanning of Indiana. Seven grandchildren and several nieces and nephews also survive. Love-Cantrell Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.
Jimmy Arnold
67 year old Jimmy Arnold of Smithville died Saturday at Centennial Medical Center. He was a retired custodian at DeKalb Middle School and a member of the New Home Baptist Church. The funeral will be Sunday at 1:30 p.m. at the Chapel of Love-Cantrell Funeral Home. Junior Hibdon and Willard Ralph will officiate and burial will be in DeKalb Memorial Gardens. Visitation will be Sunday from 9:00 a.m. until the service at 1:30 p.m. He was preceded in death by his parents, Roy Lee and Gracie Arnold and a brother, Clovis Arnold. Survivors include his wife Sue Arnold of Smithville. A sister, Emmogene Arnold of Smithville. A niece, Rhonda and her husband Tim Young of Smithville. Special nephew, Adam and his wife Dawn Lawson of Smithville. Love-Cantrell Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.
Ruth Conger Green
92 year old Ruth Conger Green of Smithville died Saturday at DeKalb Community Hospital. She was a homemaker, a member of the Pisgah Methodist Church, a former Farm Bureau director, and a member of the Home Demonstration Club. The funeral will be Monday at 1:00 p.m. at the Chapel of Love-Cantrell Funeral Home. Burial will be in Salem Cemetery. Visitation will be Sunday from noon until 9:00 p.m. and Monday from 9:00 a.m. until the time of the service at 1:00 p.m. She was preceded in death by her parents, Nicholas and Minnie Corley Reynolds; two husbands, James Robert Conger and Howard C. Green. Survivors include one son, Danny Conger of Liberty. First cousins, Sue Willoughby, Roy Burton, Jack, Roger, and Albert Corley, Ann Windle, Floyd Corley, Martha Banks, and Mildred Bass. Love-Cantrell Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.
Two Cabins Lost in Saturday Fires
Members of the DeKalb County Volunteer Fire Department were dispatched to a reported structure fire around 5:00 p.m. Saturday afternoon in a remote area of the county off of Adamson Branch Road in Liberty.
Two cabins, belonging to Walter J. Gordon of Florida, were destroyed but firefighters managed to keep the blaze from reaching three other structures nearby also belonging to Gordon including another cabin, a storage outbuilding, and a three bay garage.
Chief Donny Green says that although the Liberty, Temperance Hall, and DeKalb County Fire Department Main Station responded with pumpers, firefighters could not get equipment to the scene due to the poor access drive that led approximately one mile through a wooded area to the location where not only one, but two cabins were fully involved and threatening three more structures nearby. The fire had also spread into the wooded areas on each side of the steep ridge where the structures were located.
Green says firefighters were able to gain access with the department’s brush truck and called for mutual aid assistance from Cannon County’s Short Mountain and Eastside Fire Departments who responded with 4 X 4 brush trucks.
Although the two fully involved cabins were totally lost, Green says firefighters did manage to prevent the other three structures from becoming involved. The DeKalb County Fire Department’s Wildland Task Force also worked in coordination with the Tennessee Division of Forestry to contain and extinguish the fire.
Chief Green says that in spite of the problem of having very poor access for firefighters and equipment, the department did a great job, working with Tennessee Division of Forestry and Cannon County mutual aid departments, in minimizing the additional potential losses to the other threatened structures and the many acres of woodland that became involved. He says the department located the owner, Walter J. Gordon, who uses this property as a secondary home and has his primary residence in Florida. No one was at the premises at the time of the incident and no one was injured.