Smithville Police Receive Tip that Results in Drug Arrests

Smithville Police received a tip Friday, April 16th that led to drug charges against two people.
27 year old Karrie Chandra Hale of 920 South Mountain Highway was charged with simple possession with intent to sell and 26 year old Eric Brandon Kern of 800 Dixie Lee Highway, Monteagle was cited for possession of drug paraphernalia.
Officer Matt Holmes met with an employee of the Department of Children Services who informed him that there had been a complaint made to DCS of illegal drug use and possible manufacture of drugs at 920 South Mountain Street and that there were children living in the home.
Officer Holmes, the DCS employee and Corporal Travis Bryant went to the residence and found Hale and Kern sitting on the couch. The officers informed Hale and Kern of the allegations and asked for and received consent to search the residence for illegal drugs. Kern reached in his pocket and removed a black and chrome pipe. Kern said he used the pipe to smoke marijuana. Hale admitted that she had illegal drugs in her front pocket and produced four small round yellow pills believed to be Valium. A search of Hale’s bedroom revealed .7 ounces of a green leafy substance believed to be marijuana in a metal container on her dresser. Bond for Hale was set at $5,000. The court date for both is May 13th.
Meanwhile, in another case, 39 year old Johnny Darrell Murphy of 620 Andrews Street was arrested on Friday, April 9th for driving on a suspended license. Officer Scott Davis made the arrest. Murphy was stopped for a seat belt violation and a check of records revealed that his license was suspended for failure to satisfy a citation in DeKalb County. His bond is set at $1,000.
21 year old Brandon Wayne Hutchins of 904 Young Ridge Road was arrested on Monday, April 12th for driving on a revoked license. Corporal Travis Bryant stopped Hutchins’ vehicle for speeding. A computer check revealed that Hutchins had a prior conviction for a second offense of driving under the influence but his license were reinstated with the restriction for an interlock device to be installed on the vehicle he owned and operated. At the time of the traffic stop on Monday, Hutchin’s vehicle had no interlock device. The vehicle was seized. Bond for Hutchins was set at $1,000 and his court date is April 29th.
63 year old Jack Evans Tubb of 673 Tranquility Way was arrested on Monday, April 12th for a first offense of driving on a revoked license. Corporal Travis Bryant was traveling north on North Congress Boulevard when he saw a red car traveling south at 41 mph in a 30 mph speed zone. Corporal Bryant stopped the vehicle and Tubb, the driver, admitted that he did not have a license. A computer check revealed his driver’s license was revoked for a DUI in 1992. Tubb was cited for speeding and failure to provide proof of insurance. His vehicle was seized. Bond for Tubb was set at $1,000 and his court date is April 29th.
23 year old Rebecca Marie Biggs of 733 Dry Creek Road was arrested on Tuesday, April 13th for public intoxication. Officer Matt Holmes was called to the area of West Broad Street to check out a white Taurus that was leaving the parking lot of Amoco. The caller gave the tag number and said the driver had gone into the store and was unsteady on her feet. She spilled cappuccino numerous times by pushing the button over and over causing the cup to overflow. The caller said the woman’s pants were falling down and she appeared to be too intoxicated to notice. The caller added that she told the woman that she was in no shape to drive and that if she tried to leave she would call the police. Officer Holmes and Corporal Travis Bryant searched the area and did not see the vehicle but a short time later central dispatch received a call from someone at the UCHRA who reported that a woman had entered their building, that she was unsteady on her feet, and appeared to be intoxicated. Officer Holmes responded to the call and made contact with Ms Biggs. Her speech was slurred and she almost fell numerous times. An inventory of her purse revealed an empty bottle of Opana belonging to someone else. Bond for Biggs was set at $1,000 and her court date is April 29th.
Meanwhile, anyone having information on any criminal offense is asked to please contact the Smithville Police Department at 597-8210 or the Tip Line at 464-6046.
Any information received that will help the Smithville Police solve any criminal offense will be greatly appreciated. All information is confidential