A 31 year old Smithville woman has been charged with child abuse and neglect for allegedly leaving a young child in her vehicle while shopping at Wal-mart Friday.
Smithville Police say Saprena Lee Cooley of Pine Grove Road will appear in General Sessions Court on the charges August 7th, Her bond is $2,500.
According to police reports, the Smithville Police Department received a call of a small child left in a car at Wal-mart on Friday, July 25th. Upon arrival, Officers found a two year old girl left alone with the doors locked and the window not cracked. The outside temperature at the time was approximately 76 degrees. The child was alone in the vehicle for approximately 20 minutes while Cooley was in Wal-mart shopping. The child was not injured and was later released to her mother.
The case was investigated by Detective Sergeant Jerry Hutchins Jr. and officers Travis Bryant and Randy King. The arrest was made around 1:54 p.m. Friday.
Meanwhile, a three year old child is recovering from of a dog attack Monday afternoon.
Police say Officer Matt Holmes was dispatched to the emergency room of DeKalb Community Hospital for a dog bite. Upon arrival, Officer Holmes states that ” I made contact with the mother of the child, Jill Kennedy. She advised me that about an hour and a half earlier, she and her child, Tony Moore, were at 435 Holmes Creek Road. She advised that her three year old son was playing fetch with a dog for about an hour when suddenly the dog attacked him. She quickly retrieved the child and left. The child, according to the police report, had two large gashes on his head and his ear was cut.” No charges were filed.
In another case, 25 year old Eric D. White of New Hope Road, Alexandria was charged with theft of property under $500 on Sunday, July 27th. He is under a $2,500 bond and will be in court on the charge August 7th.
Police say White allegedly took an RCA mp3 player from Wal-mart without paying for it, valued at $43.77. White allegedly took the player out of the package and placed it on his person and then left the store.
The case was investigated by Officer Travis Bryant.
White was charged in a separate case Sunday for public intoxication. Sergeant Joey Jones responded to Crestlawn Avenue to the Housing Authority Office on a suspicious vehicle call. Upon arrival, Sergeant Jones found the vehicle and saw the subject laying in the seat. Upon getting the subject up, the officer noticed a strong odor of an alcoholic beverage on his person. When the man got out of the vehicle, he was very unsteady on his feet.
White will also be in court on the public intoxication charge August 7th.
36 year old Patsy Estes of Highland Drive was charged July 14th with public intoxication.
Officer Matt Farmer reports that he responded to Wal-mart to a possible shoplifter. Upon arrival, he was sent to the automotive section. While walking down the isle, employees pointed to a section, but before he got there, he saw Estes, who came out of an area and ran her shopping buggy into a display in the middle of the isle. She came toward Officer Farmer, almost hitting him with the cart. While speaking to her, Officer Farmer noticed her speech was very slurred and she was very unsteady on her feet. She was placed under arrest.
Estes is under a $1,000 bond and she will be in court on the charge August 14th.
Police have also taken reports on several recent thefts.
A resident at 824 West Main Street told police that he discovered the theft when he returned home Friday night around 9:00 p.m. An unknown person kicked in a rear door and took property which was last seen at 11:00 a.m. Friday. Items taken include a Play Station, valued at $500, an NCAA ‘09, valued at $60, and the rear door with window, valued at $40.
Another theft was reported on Thursday, July 24th at 450 West Main Street. The victim reported that he left home at 6:00 a.m. and discovered the theft when he returned at 2:00 p.m. Items missing include an Emerson microwave, valued at $100; a Panasonic Stereo speaker, valued at $150; $200 in change; and $50 in cash.
Police were dispatched to 215 West Main Street on Monday, July 21st where the resident reported that someone broke into his apartment and stole a 20 inch RCA TV. The victim said he had left for work at 6:30 a.m. and returned at 4:30 p.m. to find the door open.
Another West Main Street resident also reported a theft on Friday. The woman told police that on Thursday at 6:00 p.m. she went to her son’s home and returned at 10:00 p.m. to discover that someone had broken in and stolen figurines, lock box, jewelry, and clothes, among other items, valued at several hundred dollars.
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