The DeKalb County Sheriff’s Department has made several arrests since last Tuesday. In his weekly crime update to the local media, Sheriff Patrick Ray says the charges range from various drug offenses to DUI, aggravated assault, illegal possession of a weapon, domestic assault, and reckless endangerment, among others
Sheriff Ray says 21 year old Justin Allen Hale of King Ridge Road, Dowelltown was stopped on Highway 56 South for a traffic violation on Tuesday, December 29th. After obtaining consent to search, deputies found a wooden box that contained a green leafy substance believed to be marijuana and a pipe containing marijuana residue. Hale was arrested for simple possession of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia. His bond was set at $2,000 and he will appear in court on January 28th.
47 year old Jeffery O. Smithson of Viola Road McMinnville was charged Thursday, December 31st with aggravated assault and possession of a weapon in a penal institution. Smithson, who is incarcerated in the DeKalb County Jail, was charged after he assaulted an inmate with an unknown object. Bond for Smithson was set at $50,000 and he will appear in court on January 21st.
Also on New Year’s Eve, deputies went to the home of 34 year old Jackie Lee Snider on Hurricane Ridge Road to serve a state warrant on him. After making contact with Snider and cuffing him, officers saw a bottle fall from Snider’s pocket onto the ground. Upon inspection of the bottle, deputies found a half of a pill believed to be Suboxone. Another person at the home, 32 year old Heath W. Braswell of North Oaks Drive, Nashville was also arrested after a Tylenol bottle fell out of his pants onto the floor. Upon inspection of that bottle, officers found three pills believed to be Soma, one pill believed to be Xanax, and one pill believed to be diazepam. Officers obtained consent to search Braswell’s vehicle and found a one hitter marijuana pipe containing marijuana residue. Marijuana was also found in Braswell’s jacket. Snider was charged with simple possession of a schedule III drug and his bond was set at $1,000. Snider will appear in court on January 21st. Braswell was charged with simple possession of a schedule IV drug, possession of a schedule VI drug, and possession of drug paraphernalia. Bond for Braswell was set at $3,000 and he will appear in court on January 28th.
27 year old Jonathon Dustin Goff of East Main Street, Smithville was charged New Year’s Day with possession of drug paraphernalia, introduction of drugs into a penal institution, and assault. Deputies, while responding to a call concerning a suspicious vehicle in the Ragland Bottom area, met the vehicle on Highway 70 East. Officers stopped the vehicle for a traffic violation and discovered that Goff was the driver. After obtaining consent to search, deputies found a hypodermic needle in the headliner of the vehicle. Goff was arrested and brought into the jail, where correctional officer’s found 3 ½ blue pills believed to be Valium and a crushed pill believed to be Suboxone in Goff’s sock. He also had a Fentanyl patch on his arm and a small amount of marijuana in his shoe. After correctional officers booked Goff and placed him into a cell, he and 31 year old Jason Richard Skaroupka of Midway Road, who is also being housed in the jail, got into a fight. Skaroupka was charged with assault and his bond was set at $2,500. Bond for Goff was set at $14,000 on his charges and will appear in court on January 7th.
29 year old John Adrian Williams of Adamson Branch Road Liberty was charged New Year’s Day with driving on a revoked license after a deputy witnessed him driving. The officer had prior knowledge that Williams’ driver’s license was revoked. Bond for Williams was set at $1,500.00 and he will appear in court on January 28th.
On Saturday, January 2nd, deputies saw a vehicle in the roadway on Highway 56 South. Upon inspection, they found 61 year old David Richard Driver of Arrowhead Drive Smithville in the driver’s seat, the vehicle’s engine was still running and the automobile was still in gear. Officers secured the vehicle and asked Driver to perform field sobriety tasks. Driver said that he was too intoxicated to do the tests. Driver had a smell of an alcoholic beverage on his person. He was arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol and his bond was set at $1,000. Driver will appear in court on January 28th.
Also on Saturday, deputies stopped a vehicle on Highway 70 for a traffic violation and noticed a smell of an intoxicant on the driver, 46 year old Thomas Daniel Easterwood of Holmes Creek Road Smithville. Easterwood submitted to field sobriety tasks which he failed. He was also very unsteady on his feet. Easterwood was arrested for driving under the influence and his bond was set at $1,000. He will appear in court on January 28th.
Deputies responded to a domestic call on Poplar Place Road in Smithville Saturday and arrested 51 year old Thomas David Hullett for domestic assault and reckless endangerment. 24 year old Nicholas Cody Walls of Coconut Ridge Smithville was also arrested for domestic assault. Through an investigation, officers discovered that the two men got into an argument which escalated into a fight. Hullett also fired shots from a 12 gage shotgun, which went through the wall of his home and hit a neighbor’s home about 50 yards away. Both men received minor injuries from the assault. Bond for Hullett was set at $12,500 and $2,500 for Walls. Both men will appear in court on January 28th.
On Sunday, January 3rd, deputies received a domestic complaint call on Short Street in Liberty. Upon arrival officers learned that 37 year old Brian D. Graham of Short Street Liberty had assaulted his girlfriend by grabbing her arm and swinging her around. The victim also had red marks and scratches. After deputies told him he was under arrest, Graham began resisting and trying to jerk away. He was then placed into custody. Graham was charged with domestic assault and resisting arrest. His bond was set at $5,000 and he will appear in court on January 28th.
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