Smithville Police recently made two DUI arrests.
27 year old Hugo R. Fuentes was arrested on Tuesday, June 20 for driving under the influence and he was cited for a driver license violation and financial responsibility. Police responded to the Food Lion parking lot where a man, in his vehicle, appeared to be sick and intoxicated. While enroute, the officer spotted the vehicle (which had left the parking lot) on South Congress Boulevard. The driver appeared to be sick and he was swerving in and out of his lane of travel. The officer initiated a routine traffic stop at DeKalb Funeral Chapel and spoke with the driver, Fuentes. The officer could smell the odor of alcohol coming from Fuentes’ person and he was unsteady on his feet. Fuentes submitted to field sobriety tasks but performed poorly. Fuentes couldn’t provide proof of insurance and a computer check revealed that he was driving on a suspended license due to failure to show proof of financial responsibility. His bond is $1,500.
26 year old Angela Kristina Haynes was arrested on Sunday, June 25 for driving under the influence. Police responded to a report of someone passed out behind the wheel of a vehicle at the intersection of West Broad Street and Wal-Mart Drive. The officer awoke the driver, Haynes. She was unsteady on her feet, had red watery eyes and her speech was slurred. Haynes submitted to standardized field sobriety tasks but performed poorly. She was then taken into custody without incident. Her bond is $1,500 and her court date is July 20.
47 year old Angela Joan Close was cited on Tuesday, June 20 for allowing a dog to run at large. According to police, a dog owned by Close left her residence on Carter Street and was in the public roadway which caused a motor vehicle accident with injuries. Close had been warned several times to keep the dog/dogs on her property.
41 year old Jason Allen Bates was arrested on Friday, June 23 for assault. Police responded to a complaint of an assault and spoke with the parties involved. According to police, it appeared that the victim was trying to retrieve three dogs from Bates and he (Bates) grabbed the victim on her left thigh just above the knee cap and then began to scratch her. The victim had bruising and several scratch marks. Bond for Bates is $3,000 and his court date is July 14.
32 year old Carolyn Hale was cited for theft of property on Monday, June 26. She allegedly took a purse from a shopping cart at Wal-Mart on Saturday, June 24. The purse was recovered on Monday, June 26 and returned to the victim. Hale’s court date is July 13.
81 year old Thomas E. Lee was arrested on Monday, June 26 for domestic assault. Police were informed that Lee and his victim were arguing and that he kicked her leaving a bruise on her back side. Lee’s bond is $2,500 and his court date is July 13.