The DeKalb County Sheriff’s Department had another busy few weeks, making many arrests, mostly on drug and assault cases.
Sheriff Patrick Ray said that on October 26, 66-year-old Terry Lynn Sklenka of Gassaway Road, Woodbury, was arrested for DUI. She is under a $3,500 bond and her court date was November 14.
Sheriff Ray said that a deputy was traveling on West Broad Street in Smithville when he observed a black Nissan Altima with a headlight out and leaving its lane of travel multiple times.
After a traffic stop, Sklenka reportedly had a strong odor of alcohol coming from her person. When asked if she had consumed any alcohol, she allegedly admitted to having four prior to driving. Authorities say the woman was unsteady on her feet and had red watery eyes, and submitted to but performed poorly on field sobriety tasks.
On November 5, 18-year-old Meagan Michelle Madden of Fisher Avenue, Smithville, was arrested for methamphetamine manufacture, sell, deliver, or possess, and possession of drug paraphernalia. She is under a $4,000 bond and she will be in court on November 21.
Sheriff Ray said that a deputy conducted a traffic stop on a red Dodge Journey on North Congress Boulevard and made contact with multiple occupants in the vehicle, including Madden. A search of the vehicle was conducted and inside one of Madden’s bags was a baggie containing a crystal-like substance believed to be methamphetamine with a bag weight of .89 grams. Madden allegedly admitted that the bag the items were found in belonged to her. Two straws with a crystal-like residue were also found.
Also arrested at the scene was 52-year-old Marina Gay Skinner of Fisher Avenue, Smithville. She was charged with possession of methamphetamine manufacture, deliver, sell or possess, driving while in possession of meth, possession of drug paraphernalia, and simple possession of a schedule VI drug. She is under a $59,500 bond and will be in court November 21.
Sheriff Ray said that Skinner was the owner and driver of the vehicle, and during the search, inside one of Skinner’s bags, two bags with a crystal-like substance believed to be methamphetamine were discovered. One of the bags weighed six grams and the other weighed 1.06 grams, with a combined total weight of 7.06 grams.
Also found was a scale with a crystal-like substance, and a glass pipe with residue. Skinner admitted that the bag with the items inside belonged to her. Skinner was asked if she had anything on her and she handed deputies a baggie with a green leafy substance believed to be marijuana with a total weight of 1.54 grams.
That same day, 49-year-old Clarence Benjamin McConnell of Allens Chapel Road, Smithville, was arrested for possession of drug paraphernalia, possession of a controlled substance for sale or manufacture, and unlawful possession of a weapon. He is under a $29,000 bond and he Is due in court on November 21.
A deputy responded to Allens Chapel Road to serve an order of protection. Upon arrival, the deputy spoke to the victim who advised that McConnell was in possession of a handgun and was a felon. While speaking to McConnell, he allegedly admitted to being in possession of a SIG Saure handgun earlier that morning.
The deputy also spoke to a neighbor who advised that there were items in his car that McConnell had asked him to hold on to. In the items, deputies located multiple items of paraphernalia including a scale, multiple bongs and pipes, grinders, and rolling papers, as well as a large baggy with a green leafy substance believed to be marijuana, weighing 14.32 grams. McConnell allegedly admitted that the marijuana was his. The .320 gun was also located, which McConnell claimed he was holding for someone else.
A check through dispatch confirmed that McConnell was a convicted felon due to possession of drugs with the intent to sell on May, 1997 out of New Hampshire.
Also on November 5, 55-year-old Billie Jo Morris of Kings Court, Smithville, was arrested for methamphetamine manufacture, deliver, sell or possess, and possession of drug paraphernalia. She is under a $22,500 bond and is due in court on November 21.
A deputy was patrolling Adcock Cemetery Road when he noticed a white Chevy Impala driving on the wrong side of the road. The deputy conducted a traffic stop and made contact with Morris. When she was asked for her driver’s license, a used glass pipe with burn marks and a white residue fell out of her purse.
A search of the vehicle was conducted and inside Sheriff Ray said two baggies of a crystal-like substance believed to be meth were found weighing 2.72 grams and .43 grams. One bag was found inside Morris’ purse, and the other was located in a black grinder in the passenger floorboard.
On November 6, 30-year-old Brooklyn Michelle Guy of Carthage Highway, Lebanon, was arrested for driving on a revoked or suspended driver’s license, and cited for no insurance. She is under a $3,500 bond and she is due in court on November 24.
A deputy responded to Nashville Highway (Hwy 70) for a vehicle accident and upon arrival made contact with Guy. A check through dispatch revealed that her license had been suspended.
On November 7, 39-year-old Andrea Colleen Claspell of Green Hill Road, Smithville, was arrested for vandalism. She is under a $5,000 bond and due in court on December 5.
A deputy responded to Big Woods Road in reference to a fight that had occurred. The deputy made contact with Claspell who advised that there had been an altercation between her and another female. She allegedly told the deputy that she picked up an axle drive shaft and hit a car causing damage to the rear bumper.
Also that day, 29-year-old Matthew Allen White of Blue Springs Road was arrested for public intoxication. He is under a $1,500 bond and his court date is November 21.
Sheriff Ray said that a deputy was dispatched to a residence on Blue Springs Road due to a verbal argument complaint. Upon arrival, the officer spoke with White and a woman who stated they had been in a verbal argument. White continued to create a disturbance and made several statements in regard to the deputies returning to the residence. He was then placed under arrest for public intoxication.
On November 8, 35-year-old Elizabeth Eileen Esposito of Murfreesboro was arrested for possession of methamphetamine manufacture, sell, deliver, or possess, driving on a suspended license, possession of drug paraphernalia, and possession of a controlled substance (marijuana) for sale and delivery. She is under a $5,000 bond and her court date was set for November 21.
Sheriff Ray said that while patrolling Short Mountain Highway a deputy spotted a red Jeep Gladiator cross the center line. After a traffic stop, the deputy made contact with Esposito, and allegedly there was a strong odor of marijuana coming from the vehicle.
During a search, a black purse with two clear baggies of a crystal-like substance believed to be meth was found, one weighing 0.88 grams and the other 0.87 grams, with a total baggie weight of 1.75. grams.
Also found in the purse was a glass pipe with crystal like residue and burn marks on the outside of the pipe. In the middle of the console was a clear baggie with a crystal-like residue.
When asked if any marijuana was in the vehicle, Esposito said half an ounce was in the middle console. The deputy looked and found three baggies of a green leafy substance believed to be marijuana in the middle console with a combined baggie weight of 23.13 grams.
Esposito admitted that her license was suspended and a background check through central dispatch confirmed it.
On November 9, 23-year-old Andre Blake Hyatt of Hearthwood Drive, Sparta, was charged with driving under the influence and possession of a handgun while under the influence. His bond is $5,000 and he will be in court November 21.
Sheriff Ray said that a deputy was east on Sparta Highway looking for a vehicle involved in a hit and run accident. He spotted a silver two door Nissan 350Z, pulled it over, and spoke with the driver, Hyatt who smelled of alcohol and had red watery eyes. Hyatt admitted to consuming alcohol prior to driving. He got out of the vehicle and submitted to but performed poorly on field sobriety tasks. Hyatt had in his possession a Beretta 9mm firearm.
That same day, 39-year-old Amy Lynett Knowles of Cedar Street, Liberty was arrested for public intoxication.
Sheriff Ray said that a deputy responded to Cedar Street, Liberty, on a report of a nude woman walking down the road. The deputy made contact with Knowles, who was allegedly completely naked in the middle of the street, carrying a bag of feces and chewing on a used feminine hygiene product. Authorities say the woman appeared to be under the influence of narcotics.
On November 10, 36-year-old Terry Ray Barnes of Briarwood Road, Rock Island, was arrested for possession of legend drugs without a prescription, possession of a controlled substance with intent to manufacture, sell, or deliver, resisting arrest, and simple possession of marijuana. His court date is December 5.
Sheriff Ray said that Barnes tried to resist arrest at the Midnight Express on a hold without warrant by General Sessions Court for aggravated assault, possession of a weapon by a convicted felon, possession of unlawful drug paraphernalia, and failure to appear. During the detainment process, Barnes dropped a package containing six orange, round pills, 5.89 grams of a white powdery substance believed to be fentanyl, and 4.24 grams of marijuana.
Also that day, 34-year-old Timothy Ryan Lawson was charged with violation of probation. He is under a $3,500 bond and he will be in court November 21.
Sheriff Ray said that a deputy was responded to Poss Road in reference to a violation of an order of protection. Upon arrival, the deputy spoke with Lawson who was sitting in a tent with the protected person standing in front of the tent speaking to him. Lawson was arrested for being near someone he was supposed to keep away from according to the order of protection.
On November 11, 64-year-old Paul Edgar Rowland of Hawkins Drive was arrested for domestic assault. He is under a $3,500 bond and will be in court November 21.
Sheriff Ray said that Rowland allegedly punched his wife in the facial area causing injury during an argument. The wife also had marks on her lower back where he had allegedly stomped her after punching her in the face.
