Smithville Police were busy Tuesday with numerous investigations leading to multiple arrests and the recovery of items taken form local merchants. The arrests included Theft Under and Over $500.00, extensive Credit Card Fraud, Sales and Delivery of Narcotics, DUI and Child Endangerment.
Chief Thomas J. Stufano says Smithville Police, working in cooperation with area merchants and corporate security from a credit card company, were able to positively identify 20 year old Nicholas Mongello of 1222 College Street, in Smithville as the person responsible for stealing a victim’s purse from the Walmart Shopping Center.
Chief Stufano says Mongello, who worked for Walmart, had taken the purse from the victim while she placed bags of groceries in her car in the parking lot. Walmart corporate security, with the assistance of the Store Manager Matt Ciramella, was able to review closed circuit video showing the incident which aided in the investigation. The case then snowballed as Investigators and auditors found that Mongello had been stealing large denominations of cash from the store’s cash drawers and concealing the money in his clothing. Contact was also made with the victim’s Credit Card Company and a review of account activity disclosed that Mongello had made numerous purchases from other area merchants with the stolen credit card. The merchandise was then taken to Mongello’s apartment.
Chief Stufano says investigators learned that Mongello and his roommate had tried to conceal the thefts by returning some of the items purchased and obtaining cash back instead of crediting back the card account.
Investigators were able to recover a large amount of stolen items at Mongello’s apartment which included the victim’s purse and ID, a new large screen HD TV, Surround Sound Stereo System, lamps, pots/pans, dishes etc. The stolen credit card was found in Mongello’s wallet at the time of arrest. Mongello was transported to the DeKalb County Jail on a $7,500 bond. The investigation is continuing and additional charges are pending upon notification of the numerous victims in the case.
Meanwhile 39 year old Troy Bain of 420 Hayes Street in Smithville was arrested Tuesday. Chief Stufano says Bain had been cutting across a field near Hayes Street and Gentry Avenue and acting suspicious by trying to conceal his face and then looking back to see if officers, who were on patrol in the area, had spotted him. As the officers approached Bain, he attempted to run and threw a clear plastic baggy onto the ground. He was quickly stopped and officers found in the baggy over (20) Hydrocodone pills. Due to the amount and type of pills, Bain was arrested for Sale and Delivery of Narcotics and transported to the DeKalb County Jail under a $10,000 bond.
25 year old Chasity Phillips of 350 Shady Lane in Smithville was arrested Tuesday for DUI and Reckless Endangerment. Officers stopped Phillips due to her driving erratically and crossing the centerline numerous times. Sobriety tests were administered but Phillips was unable to stand due to her intoxication. Her five month old baby, who was also in the vehicle, was subsequently released to a family member. Phillips was arrested for DUI and Child Endangerment and transported to the DeKalb County Jail under a $5,000 bond.
Chief Stufano says “Smithville Police are actively investigating all crimes committed in the city and value the support and response the community is lending in helping develop leads and identify criminal activity in the neighborhoods. If you have information that may help identify suspicious activity please call us at 615-597-8210. As always your information will be treated confidentially.”

Governor Phil Bredesen announced today an Aeronautics Grant in the amount of $800,000 has been awarded to the Smithville Municipal Airport in Dekalb County to assist with improvements to that facility.
General aviation airports are critical to the economic development of communities across the state, said Governor Bredesen. These airports provide quick access for businesses, serve as reliever airports for local flight centers and are important shipping hubs. In order to stay competitive these airports must be kept up to date.
The grant funds will be used for the construction of a new T-hangar, taxiway and apron.
This grant will help this airport meet the growing needs of the community it serves, added enator Mae Beavers. I’m pleased the state could assist with this project.
This is exactly the kind of investment I hope the state continues to make in our general aviation transportation system, commented Representative Frank Buck. It is extremely important to this area’s economy.
Tennessee Department of Transportation Commissioner Gerald Nicely explained that the grants are made available through the department’s Aeronautics Division.
This Division administers federal and state funding to assist in the location, design, construction and maintenance of Tennessee’s diverse public aviation system, reported Nicely. We are pleased to be able to provide millions of dollars each year for the betterment of our airports through our grant programs.
Grant applications are reviewed by the Tennessee Aeronautics Commission (TAC), which is a five member board charged with policy planning and with regulating changes in the state airport system plan.
These grants can have a significant impact on the future of a general aviation airport and its economic contributions to our state,” said TAC Chairman Lonnie Strunk. “Our board examines the applications carefully to ensure that the funds will be put to good use.”
The TDOT Aeronautics Division also has the responsibility of inspecting and licensing the state’s 126 heliports and 75 public/general aviation airports. General aviation includes all aircraft not flown by commercial airlines or the military. The Aeronautics Division also provides aircraft and related services for state government executives, staffing for the Tennessee Aeronautics Commission, and numerous educational support programs. The division’s offices include Administration, Finance & Grant Management, Engineering & Program Development, Flight Services, and Planning & Programming.

The DeKalb County Sheriff’s Department made several arrests during Graduation Night road blocks on Friday evening.
Sheriff Patrick Ray says a total of 444 vehicles were stopped and checked on Highway 70 west between Liberty and Smithville and one arrest was made, 39 year old Napoleon Wainwright of Sassafrass Lane, Woodbury.
Sheriff Ray says Wainwright was charged with simple possession of marijuana after the county drug dog Banshee hit on Wainwright’s vehicle.
Wainwright was also charged with criminal impersonation after he gave officers a name other than his own, when identifying himself.
Sheriff Ray speculated that Wainwright may have given the false name because he currently has outstanding warrants against him in Cannon County.
Wainwright’s bond on the local charges is $3,000. His court date is June 21st.
Sheriff Ray says a total of 466 vehicles were stopped on Highway 56 south near WJLE and two arrests were made, 22 year old Nayeli Herrera of Bell Street, Smithville and 19 year old Jerardo Perez of Luttrell Avenue, Smithville.
Herrera was charged with no drivers license. Her bond was set at $1,000 and her court date is May 31st.
Perez is charged with underage consumption of an alcoholic beverage. Bond for Perez is $1,000.
In a roadblock on Highway 70 east, 134 vehicles were stopped and Sheriff Ray says two citations were issued for no drivers license and no insurance.
26 year old Garth Cantrell of Pine Grove Road, Smithville was also arrested at the road block for simple possession of marijuana and possession with intent to sell or deliver over 22 grams of crack cocaine after the county drug dog Banshee hit on his vehicle.
Sheriff Ray says while Cantrell was being detained, he took a set of handcuffs and scraped them down the hood of a county patrol car, causing damage to the hood. For that, Cantrell was charged with vandalism.
Cantrell’s bond is set at $57,500 and his court date is May 31st. Cantrell’s 1997 Chevy Tahoe was also seized.
Later that night, 49 year old Johnny Whiteaker of Dibrell Lucky Road, McMinnville was arrested and charged with DUI. His court date is June 21st.
Meanwhile, 24 year old Jeremy Loader of Bethel Road was arrested on May 15th, after being involved in a one car motor vehicle accident on Holmes Creek Road. Loader was charged with DUI and his bond was set at $1,000. His court date is June 21st.
43 year old Sandi Fults of Pea Ridge Road Liberty was also arrested recently on two counts of forgery. Her bond is set at $2,000 and her court date is June 21st.
Sheriff Ray says Fults found a check book at a gas station in Liberty, removed two of the checks from the book, forged them and cashed them locally for $85.00 each. She went to Cannon County and cashed at least one check there. Charges are pending against her in Cannon County.

The Smithville Board of Mayor and Aldermen, at the request of several residents in the area, voted Monday night to install three speed “humps” on West Main Street, as a pilot project, from the four way stop at North Mountain Street westward to the bridge.
Bert and Betsy Driver presented a petition signed by twenty three residents, which states as follows” The residences of historical West Main Street are gravely concerned about our safety. More importantly, we are concerned about the safety of our children and grandchildren. Motorists continually speed down our street with blatant disregard to the speed limits and caution signs (Children at Play). Many years ago, government officials recognized that West Main Street was not designed to accommodate such high rates of speed; therefore, West Broad Street was developed and continues to be the most direct and safest thoroughfare for motorists. We feel that speed humps need to be installed near the intersection of Juniper Lane and at the top of the hill near the intersection of Shady Lane. Although enforcement of speed limits by police departments is an effective means of reducing speeds, limited resources do not allow such enforcement on a regular and permanent basis. Please note that we are not in favor of flashing lights because they are ineffective and can be detrimental to the historical value of West Main Street. In brief, traffic calming measures need to be implemented now in order to protect all citizens, especially our children”.
The speed humps will not be constructed as tall as speed bumps.
Meanwhile, in other business, the city board voted to have a resolution prepared for passage at the next meeting that would give Country music entertainer John Anderson the authority to use an existing street easement in his subdivision development as a golf cart path, subject to court approval.
Anderson Estates will be a 42 acre, 52 lot subdivision on Riley Avenue
In a 1995 Chancery court settlement with the previous owner, the city dedicated a fifty foot wide right of way from Golf Club Drive to the property for the purpose of building a city street at the expense of the property owner.
The previous owner of the property never requested that the street be developed, so Anderson wants to use the easement as a golf cart path from his subdivision, where he intends to build a club house, to the city golf course.
The city board is expected to adopt a resolution authorizing the use of the easement as a golf cart path, subject to approval by the Chancellor, who approved the original court settlement between the city and previous owner.
Should the owner of the property later decide to use the easement as a street, rather than a golf cart path, he could do so under the agreement.