Smithville Police Arrest Two in Car Burglary Investigation

Two men have been arrested by Smithville Police in an investigation into a rash of recent car burglaries.
Captain Steven Leffew said 22 year old Dra Dewayne Watkins and 25 year old Garrett Buckmaster are each charged with three counts of burglary and two counts of theft. Buckmaster is also charged with one count of unlawful possession of a weapon. Watkins is under a bond of $27,500. Buckmaster’s bond is $65,000. They will make an appearance in General Sessions Court on August 6.
According to Captain Leffew, the arrests resulted from an investigation by Lieutenant Matt Holmes, Detective Brandon Donnell, and Officer Lance Dillard. Many victims came forward within the last two weeks to report damage to and missing items from their vehicles. Items from some of these thefts were recovered at the home where Watkins and Buckmaster were residing. Detective Donnell made the arrests on Wednesday, July 22.
50 year old Janice Lynn Johnson was arrested on Friday, July 10 for DUI and cited for violation of the implied consent law. Officer Lance Dillard responded to Taco Bell in reference to a possible drunk driver sitting in the drive through. Upon arrival, he spoke with Johnson who appeared to be unsteady on her feet and she had slurred speech. Johnson submitted to but performed poorly on field sobriety tasks. Her bond is $1,500 and she will be in court on August 6.
43 year old Marina G. Skinner of Dixon Springs was arrested for public intoxication on Friday, July 17. Officer Andy Snow was called to a fight in progress and found Skinner sitting outside in a chair. She was belligerent, unreasonable, uncooperative, unsteady on her feet, and she had a smell of alcohol on her person. Skinner was determined to be a nuisance to other people in the neighborhood. Her bond is $1,500 and she will be in court on August 6.
20 year old John T. Mason was arrested for domestic assault on Saturday, July 18. Officer Will Judkins and Sergeant Brad Tatrow were dispatched to an area of Jackson Street due to a fight in progress. Upon arrival they observed Mason hitting a woman several times in the face with his fist. After refusing the officers orders to stop, Mason was apprehended by Sergeant Tatrow, who used a taser due to the volatility of the fight and as it appeared Mason was going to flee on foot. His bond is $2,500 and he will be in court on August 13.
52 year old Rita Gail Houk was cited for vandalism and theft on Thursday, July 23. The citation was issued by Sergeant Brad Tatrow. Houk allegedly took property from a business without the owner’s permission and in the process damaged another item. She will make a court appearance on August 27.