Smithville Police made four arrests over the weekend for drugs, DUI, hit and run, public intoxication and disorderly conduct.
Chief Tom Stufano says “It was a very successful Jamboree and the number of arrests were relatively small based on the large crowds that attended. The safety of the festival was a huge success due to the planning of the Jamboree Committee. The Jamboree atmosphere was very calm, family valued and enjoyed by all. The Tennessee Emergency Management Agency was also on hand coordinating contingency plans just in case emergency conditions were required. Only one significant event occurred , a drunk driver, but with the help of concerned citizens, authorities were able to keep that person from driving onto the crowded streets.”
On Saturday afternoon, Chief Stufano says numerous 911 calls were placed simultaneously about a vehicle driving in an erratic manner along Church Street and that it had hit two other automobiles parked along the roadway. The vehicle then drove around a barricade and entered a parking lot on Church and 4th Street striking another automobile. The vehicle then drove around a second barricade and entered 4th Street heading toward the public square. Patrons at the festival saw the vehicle trying to enter the crowded area and were able to surround the car and pull the keys out of the ignition. Smithville Police were on the scene immediately and placed into custody 39 year old Robin Howard Russell of 861 Ward Mill Road, Baxter. Further investigation noted that Russell had been drinking from a gallon bottle of whiskey, which police found opened and in his lap at the time of arrest. A computer check disclosed that Russell had just been released from a neighboring county jail the day before for DUI. Additionally, Russell was driving on a Revoked Driver’s License. Charges against him included; DUI (3rd) offense, Reckless Endangerment, Leaving the Scene of an Accident (3 times) and Violation of the Open Container law. Russell could not perform a field sobriety test due to his inebriated state. His bond was set at $49,500.
Meanwhile, Smithville Officers responded to the BP Gas Station on Saturday afternoon after the manager reported that a female had locked herself in the facility bathroom for over a half hour. Officers found 37 year old Aimee Jobe of 7694 Holmes Creek Road, Smithville in the bathroom and after some coaxing she opened the door and came out. Jobe, upon opening the door, immediately stated to the officers “I know it smells like marijuana in there but I didn’t do it”. Officers did detect a strong odor of Marijuana emanating from the bathroom. Jobe then tried to push her way through the officers to leave. Upon detainment she became very irate screaming and yelling within the store. She was subsequently arrested for Disorderly Conduct and transported to the DeKalb County Jail for processing. Once there, officers also found that she had a used syringe along with an unmarked bottle of 44 ½ pills known as Flexril and 16 other various pills concealed in her purse. Jobe was charged with Possession of Legend Drugs for sale and Delivery. Her bond was set at $41,000.
Officers working the Jamboree arrested 31 year old Christopher Gibbs of 221 Sims Street, Smithville for Public Intoxication. While directing traffic a Smithville Officer observed Gibbs stumbling into traffic along North College Street. Upon contact with the officers, Gibbs stated that he had just drank 4 beers. Based on the volume of traffic and his condition, he was arrested and transported to the DeKalb County Jail under a $1,000 bond.
Police made a second arrest for public intoxication after receiving numerous complaints that a person camping along Main Street and Highway 56 was highly intoxicated. Officers contacted 47 year old Christopher Barnes of 101 Trebble Lane, Lebanon and found him lying on the ground passed out. He was awakened and found to be under the influence. For his safety and those camping around him he was arrested and transported to the DeKalb County Jail under a $1,000 bond.
Archived News & Obituaries