The Smithville Police Department is investigating the theft last week of a truck, trailer, and lawn mower from the DeKalb County School Bus Garage at 234 Allen’s Ferry Road.
According to a report filed by Officer Nathan Estes, Peggy Pursell advised that when she arrived at the garage last Thursday morning, March 19th, she noticed that the gates to the lot were open. The gate lock did not appear to have been tampered with. When the truck, trailer, and lawn mower were found to be missing, everyone who had a key was contacted to see if they had come and gotten them, but they (truck, trailer, and lawn mower) could not be found. A bus driver was the last one at the garage the night before but the driver could not remember if he had shut and locked the gate.
Police Chief Richard Jennings says the truck and trailer have been recovered in Rutherford County but the lawn mower remains missing.
Meanwhile, in other cases, Smithville Police have charged 42 year old Herbert Edward Ashford, Jr. with possession of a schedule IV and II controlled substance. His bond totals $3,000 and he will be in court April 16th.
Officer Brad Tatrow reports that “on Wednesday, March 18th, I was aiding Deputy Johnson on a traffic stop at Easterly Motors. Upon consent to search the vehicle, I recovered a round white pill from between the seats on the passenger side of the vehicle. Upon placing the passenger, Ashford under arrest for simple possession, he produced another pill of some kind from his right sock. The pills are round in shape and believed to be xanax. Ashford was charged with simple possession of a schedule IV controlled substance. While at the police department, Ashford advised me that he had a half of a percocet in his cigarette pack. Upon recovering a half of a yellow pill, believed to be percocet, Ashford was charged with possession of a schedule II controlled substance.
27 year old Harold L. Spears of Saint Paul, Virginia was arrested Saturday and charged with being a fugitive from justice. He is being held without bond and will be in court March 25th.
In his report, Officer Travis Bryant states that “While conducting a traffic stop, I made contact with Spears at the parking lot of Mapco Express, who was a passenger of a vehicle. I asked for his identification, and he complied. I checked via dispatch for local warrants through NCIC and TCIC and was advised that Spears was wanted in Virginia for failure to return leased property valued at $200 or more.” Virginia has agreed to extradite him.
26 year old Anthony Charles Skaroupka was charged March 22nd with unlawful possession of a weapon. His bond is $3,500 and his court date is April 16th.
Officer Travis Bryant, in his report, states that Skaroupka admitted that he is the owner of a weapon (handgun) that was at his brother’s home at 500 South College Street. Skaroupka is a convicted felon, having been previously charged with domestic assault and aggravated assault.
21 year old Thomas E. Pendergrast of Woodbury was issued a citation by Officer Brad Tatrow March 21st for simple possession of a schedule VI controlled substance after Pendergrast admitted to having a bag of marijuana and a marijuana cigarette in his pocket as well as a bag of marijuana in his clothes bag.
Officer Tatrow also issued a citation on March 21st to Thomas Alvand Neal for possession of a schedule VI controlled substance after he admitted to having a blue Union Bank money bag containing a green leafy substance believed to be marijuana.
29 year old Scotty Wayne Knowles is charged with theft of property under $500. His bond is $1,500 and he will be in court April 2nd.
Officer Scott Davis reports that Knowles took some clothes from Walmart without paying for them on March 20th. He was observed placing the items, valued at $59, inside his jacket. Knowles also had outstanding warrants against him for violation of probation and failure to appear in DeKalb County and a warrant in Warren County.
24 year old Scarlette Lawrence is charged with disorderly conduct. Her bond is $1,000 and she will be in court April 16th,
Officer Matt Holmes reports that he responded to 500 South College Street on March 22nd to assist Officer Bryant when Lawrence came out of the residence yelling and cursing at another female. She was advised to stop yelling and disturbing the neighbors and to go back into the house. She was asked numerous times to go back inside or she would be arrested. She did go inside but came out again yelling and cursing. Lawrence was placed under arrest and became very belligerent while being handcuffed jumping up and down.
36 year old David Russell Morris is charged with a second offense of driving on a revoked license. His bond is $3,000 and his court date is April 8th.
Officer Travis Bryant reports that on March 21st he observed a vehicle at the parking lot of Mapco Express matching the description of a vehicle that police had been looking for in another case. The tag came back (computer check) to a van but the vehicle in question was a town car. The vehicle began to leave driven by a male, but the vehicle pulled back into the parking lot and the driver got out to let a female get behind the wheel. The vehicle drove off. Upon stopping the car and asking for the male passenger for his license, he stated that he did not have one. A computer check revealed the license was revoked for a DUI and a first offense of driving on a revoked license on August 21st, 2000 in Rutherford County.
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