Sheriff Patrick Ray is asking for your help in solving a rash of mailbox vandalism cases.
In his weekly media update on crime, Sheriff Ray says the vandalism has been occurring in several different places across the county .”In the last month we have had reports of mailboxes that have gotten vandalized in Dowelltown, Temperance Hall, Keltonburg, and the Four Seasons areas among other locations. Some of the complainants reported hearing vehicles stop by their mailboxes, but did not look to see who it was or what they were driving. We are asking the public to “be on the lookout” for this kind of activity. There have been reports of mailboxes that were hit with an unidentified object. Some of the boxes were blown up by sealed plastic water bottles that contained unknown chemicals which produced a gas inside causing the explosion.. If you hear anything outside of your home, please observe and try to get a description of the vehicle and a direction of travel and then call the central dispatch at 215-3000 so a deputy can be dispatched to your location. If you know or have heard of a person who might be involved in the mailbox vandalism incidents, please call Sheriff Ray at 597-4935 or the sheriff’s department’s crime tip line at 464-6400. All calls are kept confidential.
Meanwhile, in other crime news, Sheriff Ray says 31 year old Jason Zeen Cripps of Bethel Road Smithville was arrested on Saturday, November 28th for theft of property over $500. On Thanksgiving Day, detectives received a report that someone had stolen a bumper trailer from a location on Cookeville Highway. After Cripps was identified as a suspect, deputies and detectives went to the Cripps home on Bethel Road and saw the stolen trailer. Cripps was picked up and questioned. He was later charged with the crime. Bond for Cripps was set at $5,000 and he will appear in court on December 10th. More charges and arrests are pending in this and other cases.
30 year old Jack Mullican Jr. of Gay Road Smithville was arrested on Thursday, December 3rd for forgery after detectives conducted an investigation into a forgery case and identified Mullican as a suspect. On October 18th, detectives received a report from a Mullican family member who said someone had stolen blank checks and passed one of them at Kwik & Ezy Market in Smithville. After interviewing Mullican about the case, he admitted to passing the check. Mullican’s bond was set at $2,500 and he will appear in court on January 28th.
Also on Thursday a deputy, while on patrol, stopped 22 year old Phil Darnell Fullilove of Lavergne Street Alexandria for driving on a revoked license. The officer had prior knowledge that Fullilove’s drivers license had been revoked. This was the third time Fullilove had been caught behind the wheel of a motor vehicle without having a valid driver’s license. He was charged with a 3rd offense of driving on a revoked license and his bond was set at $5,000. He will appear in court on December 16th.
Meanwhile, on Friday, December 4th a deputy, while on patrol on Sparta Highway, stopped 29 year old John Adrian Williams of Orthodox Way Liberty for a traffic violation. After the stop, officers checked William’s drivers license and discovered they were revoked for failure to file insurance after an accident. The department’s K-9, also at the scene, alerted on Williams’ vehicle. Deputies conducted a search and found a vial of water in Williams’ pocket. A hypodermic syringe was found under the driver’s seat and mason jars, plastic tubing, and iodine were also in the vehicle. Williams was charged with possession of drug paraphernalia and driving on a revoked license. His bond was set at $2,000 and he will appear in court on December 17th. Williams admitted to the deputies that he had injected himself with methamphetamine earlier in the day.
22 year old Gregory Hamilton Clark of Suttons Branch Road Beech Grove was arrested on Saturday, December 5th for driving under the influence and possession of drug paraphernalia. Clark was stopped after deputies saw him traveling 70 mph in a 55 mph zone and weaving on the roadway. After making the traffic stop, the officers noticed a smell of marijuana coming from the vehicle. Clark submitted to field sobriety tasks which he failed. Clark refused to take a blood alcohol test. Under the driver’s seat, deputies found a glass pipe containing marijuana residue. Bond for Clark was set at $2,000 and he was issued a citation for violation of the implied consent law. He will appear in court on December 17th.
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