Smithville Police have charged a 41 year old woman with four counts of forgery.
Chief Randy Caplinger told WJLE Tuesday that police arrested Michelle Byars on a failure to appear warrant March 29th and while searching her, an officer found a check belonging to another female. Upon a further investigation, Byars was found to have allegedly stolen several checks belonging to this other female. Byars allegedly forged the name of this other woman on the checks and passed three of them at Save-A-Lot and another one at DeKalb County Ace Hardware. Her bond is $6,000.
51 year old Phillip Davis is charged with shoplifting. His bond is $1,500 and he will be in court April 26. Chief Caplinger reports that on Wednesday, April 4, police were called to the Dollar General Store. Upon arrival, the officer was informed by the store manager that a man, who had been doing electrical work for them, had allegedly taken an item from the store without paying for it. Camera surveillance and a witness confirmed it and Davis allegedly confessed to it when confronted.
31 year old Jason Allen Mosely is charged with two counts of theft of property over $500. His bond is $5,000. Chief Caplinger reports that on Wednesday, April 4th, police received complaints from two residents on Jennings Lane that their small utility trailers had been stolen. During a further investigation, authorities discovered that the trailers were sold to a pawn shop in McMinnville. The trailers were recovered. Moseley was later arrested. The sheriff’s department also has charges against Mosely in other theft cases.
Sheriff Patrick Ray said that on Wednesday, March 28, Moseley broke into a shed on New Bildad Road and took a riding mower, a weedeater, a leaf blower, a power washer, two propane fish fryers, two propane tanks, a black plastic tool box, and a battery charger. The total value is $3,047. He is charged with theft of property over $1,000 and burglary. He was arrested on Wednesday, April 11. Moseley’s bond is $23,000 and he will be in court on April 26.
30 year old Barry Gibbs is charged with evading arrest. His bond is $2,500. Chief Caplinger reports that on Tuesday, April 10 police spotted Gibbs at Walmart. Knowing that Gibbs had Warren and Macon County warrants against him, the officer confronted Gibbs. He tried to flee but was quickly apprehended and taken into custody.
28 year old Melissa Webb is cited for shoplifting. Her court date is May 10. Chief Caplinger said that on Tuesday, April 17 an officer was called to Walmart. Upon arrival, an employee said that Webb was observed taking items from the store into a restroom. She later came out of the restroom,but none of the items could be seen on her. The restroom was searched and several empty containers were found. Webb was confronted and allegedly admitted to taking the items. They were found in her purse.
22 year old Lyndsey Davenport is cited for possession of drug paraphernalia. She will be in court on May 10. Chief Caplinger reports that on Wednesday, April 18 an officer responded to Pack Circle on an unwanted guest call. Upon arrival, the officer confronted Davenport in the roadway. The officer obtained consent to search and in her purse, he found hypodermic needles and straws used to snort drugs. Davenport allegedly admitted to having these items for the illegal use of dilaudid
21 year old Jennifer Koon is charged with driving under the influence. Her bond is $1,500. Chief Caplinger said that on Thursday, April 19, an officer was dispatched to South Congress Boulevard in reference to a vehicle possibly being operated by an intoxicated driver. Police spotted the suspected automobile traveling at 54 miles per hour in a 40 mile per hour speed zone. The officer stopped the vehicle, which was driven by Koon. He could smell a strong odor of an alcoholic beverage on her person. She submitted to but performed poorly on field sobriety tasks. Koon was placed under arrest. She submitted to a blood alcohol test.
41 year old Tisha Burns is charged with simple possession of a schedule II, IV and VI controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia. She will be in court May 17. Chief Caplinger reports that on Sunday, April 22, Burns was stopped for a traffic violation. The officer received consent to search the vehicle and found a green leafy substance believed to be marijuana and a pipe believed to have been used to smoke it. She also had nine xanax pills and three roxycodone pills.
Meanwhile, due to a rise in theft reports recently, Chief Caplinger is asking city residents to keep their garage doors closed when they are away from home “We’re noticing during the day while we’re on patrol, a lot of people are leaving their garage doors up. You can see mowers, weed eaters, and all types of equipment inside those garages. It is very enticing for thieves,” he said.
The Police Department now has two humvees in its fleet.
Chief Caplinger said the department recently applied for and received approval to obtain two humvees at no costs from military surplus in Montgomery Alabama and they will be used during tactical operations, weather related diasters, and in other emergency situations. The vehicles will be fixed up and repainted, before being deployed.
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