In his latest report on recent crime news in the county, Sheriff Patrick Ray reports that 53 year old Tina Lynn Cazee of Hickman is charged with driving under the influence. Her bond is $1,500 and her court date is June 9th. On Monday, April 25th Cazee was involved in a property damage accident while operating a motor vehicle on Smith Fork Road. The investigating officer found her to be unsteady on her feet and her speech was slurred. Cazee performed poorly on all field sobriety tasks. She did submit to a blood test.
Meanwhile, 43 year old Melissa Jean Culwell of South Mountain Street, Smithville is charged with failure to appear. Her bond is $1,500 and her court date is May 5th. Sheriff Ray reports that
Culwell was due to report to the DeKalb County Jail on Friday, April 29th at 6:00 p.m. to serve a weekend sentence but she showed up late.
30 year old James Harold Brassell, Jr. of Pleasant Shade is charged with one count of driving on a revoked license and a second offense of driving under the influence. He was also issued a citation for violation of the implied consent law. His bond totals $4,500 and he will be in court on May 12th. According to Sheriff Ray, on Saturday, April 30th, a deputy was dispatched to Highway 56 to check out a complaint about a reckless driver. The officer spotted a vehicle on the left side of the road with the lights on. The driver was slumped over the wheel. The deputy stopped to check on the welfare of the driver. The car doors were locked. It took the officer about ten minutes to get inside the vehicle. Brassell was found to have a strong odor of an alcoholic beverage on his person and he could not walk without assistance. He refused to submit to a blood test. Brassell performed poorly on all field sobriety tasks. EMS arrived at the scene to check on him but he refused assistance. A computer check also revealed that his drivers license were revoked due to a DUI offense against him on October 14th, 2009 in Wilson County.
24 year old Jason Sturdivant of Page Drive, Smithville is charged with driving on a suspended license. His bond is $1,500 and he will be in court on May 11th. Sheriff Ray reports that on Sunday, May 1st an officer was performing a welfare check on a vehicle parked at Mystik Market on Highway 56. The driver, Sturdivant, was found to be slumped over the steering wheel with the vehicle’s engine still running. The officer had prior knowledge that Sturdivant had a suspended drivers license. Sturdivant also has other driving on suspended license charges pending in court. His license were suspended on October 16th, 2009 for failure to satisfy a citation.
Archived News & Obituaries