Drunk Driver Found with Handguns and a Small Child

A Smithville man was arrested last week after he was found driving drunk with a small child and two handguns in the vehicle with him at the time.
39 year old Jeremy Aaron Bilbrey of Village Place, Smithville is charged with driving under the influence and possession of a handgun while under the influence. He was also cited for violation of the implied consent law and for Roadway Laned for Travel. His bond is $3,000 and he will be in court on May 15.
Sheriff Patrick Ray said that on Friday, April 18 a deputy was dispatched to McMinnville Highway in response to a complaint of a blue Cadillac driving recklessly. The officer spotted the vehicle, which crossed over the center line several times into the turning lane. The driver, Bilbrey was stopped and found to have glassy eyes and his speech was slurred and mumbled. He was asked to step out of the car and perform standard field sobriety tasks. He performed poorly on the tasks. Bilbrey admitted to taking his pain medication earlier in the day. A two year old child was in the vehicle with Bilbrey and two handguns, a SIG Sauer P223 and a Glock 19, were on the front passenger side. He was arrested for DUI and taken to the jail for booking. He refused to submit to a blood test.
64 year old Harold Gene Blackwell of Sparta is charged with evading arrest. His bond is $5,000 and he will be in court May 15. Blackwell was also issued citations for Reckless Driving and Driving on a Roadway Laned for Traffic.
Sheriff Ray said that on Wednesday, April 16 the sheriff’s department received a radio call from an officer in another county that a blue Toyota Tacoma had almost hit his patrol car head-on and was coming toward Smithville on Sparta Highway. A local deputy met the vehicle near the four lane of Highway 70 just east of Evins Mill Road. When the officer turned around to make a traffic stop, the vehicle turned onto Evins Mill Road and fled at a high rate of speed. The deputy turned onto Evins Mill Road and activated his emergency lights and siren but the fleeing vehicle continued to evade until it reached the entrance of Evins Mill where it came to a stop. Blackwell, the driver, was placed under arrest.
40 year old Rikke Patterson of Big Hickory Court Smithville is charged with public intoxication and resisting arrest. Patterson is under a $3,500 bond and she will be in court April 24. She was arrested on Friday, April 18. Sheriff Ray said that on Tuesday, April 1, a deputy responded to Highway 56 north (North Congress Boulevard) in response to a suspicious person inside a business, who was upset and asking for money, telling an employee there that she needed cash for her dog, her family, and to pay bills. The deputy spoke with the woman, Patterson, who appeared to be under the influence of alcohol and or drugs. She had slurred speech and was unsteady on her feet. She also had a bluish white powdery substance in the corners of her mouth. Outside the business, Patterson told the officer that she needed money because someone had tied up her husband and that her children may also be in danger. During the conversation, the officer noticed that Patterson became more upset and she began moving toward the driver’s side door of her vehicle. The deputy grabbed her arm to prevent her from getting in the automobile, fearing she might try to leave. Patterson pulled away and swung her arms at the deputy. He grabbed and tried to cuff her but she again pulled away. The officer then took her to the ground and cuffed her by force. Patterson was taken to the hospital and later charged with Public Intoxication due to her being a danger to herself and to the public. Officers of the Sheriff’s Department conducted a welfare check on Patterson’s husband and children and they were found to be well and in good health.
22 year old Michael Anthony Leichtfuss of Old Eagle Creek Road, Smithville is charged with introduction of contraband or drugs into a penal institution. His bond is $5,000. Sheriff Ray said that on Monday, April 14 Leichtfuss was observed on video surveillance at the jail performing a suspicious act. When correctional officers investigated, Leichtfuss rose to his feet and a pill believed to be xanax, a Schedule IV drug, fell from his person onto the floor near his bunk. Leichtfuss admitted that the pill belonged to him. Leichtfuss has been serving weekends in jail for another offense.
42 year old James Clayton Henley, Jr. of Poss Road, Smithville is charged with domestic assault. His bond is $2,500 and he will be in court May 1. Sheriff Ray said that on Saturday, April 19 a deputy responded to Willis McGinnis Road in response to a domestic assault. Upon arrival the officer spoke with Henley and the victim, Henley’s brother-in-law. Henley was bleeding from a head injury. He also had slurred speech and was unsteady on his feet. After speaking to all parties, the officer learned that Henley had driven to the residence. He was highly intoxicated and upset about an argument he had with his wife earlier in the day. Henley’s brother-in-law said he met Henley in the driveway to see what was wrong and that Henley began yelling and screaming at him. Henley then removed his glasses and swung his fist trying to hit his brother-in-law in the face. The brother-in-law said he blocked the punch and then used force against Henley to defend himself. Due to Henley being intoxicated, the brother-in-law removed the keys from Henley’s vehicle to prevent him from driving.