The DeKalb County Sheriff’s Department had its hands full last week, making several arrests, including one man who took a truck for a test drive and never returned it.
Sheriff Patrick Ray told the Smithville Review that on January 30, 23-year-old Jesse Glenn Ferrell of Walker Drive, Smithville, was arrested for evading arrest by motor vehicle, tampering with evidence, reckless endangerment, and driving on a revoked license. He has a total bond of $56,000 and is due to appear in court on February 16.
A deputy made contact with a 1994 Chevrolet Silverado, driven by Ferrell, with the deputy having prior knowledge of it being stolen out of Smithville as reported by the Smithville Police Department. Ferrell had reportedly taken the truck on a test drive from Glynn’s Auto Sales and never returned.
When the deputy initiated his blue lights and siren, Ferrell reportedly attempted to flee by driving at a high rate of speed through the Short Mountain area and into Cannon County. During the pursuit, authorities say the man threw multiple items out of the window. The deputy later recovered two plastic containers with a white residue believed to be narcotics.
Authorities also allege that during the chase, Ferrell was driving on the wrong side of the road, almost striking oncoming vehicles.
After Ferrell was taken into custody, it was confirmed that his license had been revoked for a DUI in Alabama on May 20, 2020. He was also cited for possession of a schedule VI drug marijuana, and possession of drug paraphernalia after .27 grams of what is believed to be marijuana and a grinder were found after his arrest.
In other Sheriff’s news, on January 25, 36-year-old Kenny Wayman Dyal of Floyd Drive, Smithville, was arrested for evading arrests. He is under a $6,000 bond and is set to appear in court on February 9.
Sheriff Ray reported that a deputy was attempting to serve a warrant on Dyal at Floyd Drive, when the man exited the house and fled on foot. He was given multiple verbal commands to stop and was later found at a neighbor’s house, hiding under a tarp in a boat.
That same day, 35-year-old Joshua Lynne Batey of Parkway Drive, Smithville, was arrested for sale and delivery of a schedule VI drug marijuana. He is under a $7,500 bond and is due in court on February 16.
Sheriff’s detectives went to Parkway Drive to assist probation and parole officers with a probation search of Batey. Inside a bathroom, in the master bedroom, two clear jars of a green leafy substance believed to be marijuana were located. There was also a marijuana grinder located in the bathroom, along with five baggies inside the two glass jars, weighing approximately 1.15 ounces, .4 ounces, .6 ounces, .9 ounces, and 1.6 ounces, for a total of 4.65 ounces.
On January 26, 49-year-old David Stewart Harris of Possum Hollow Road, Dowelltown, was charged with burglary and theft of property under $1,000. He is under a $6,500 bond and is due in court on February 9.
Sheriff Ray said that on January 19, Harris entered a storage unit on Nashville Highway with the intent to commit a theft. Harris did not have consent from the renter to enter the building. Harris later returned items to law enforcement that had been taken, including two air conditioners, and several children’s toys with a total value of $770.
On January 30, 41-year-old Tommy Jerome Bates of Foster Road, Smithville, was charged with misuse of the 911 system and resisting arrest. He is under a $6,000 bond and his court date is set for February 9.
Through a warrant from the Smithville Police Department, it is alleged that Bates called E-911 without an emergency and was advised that if he kept calling without an emergency he could be charged. Police say he called E-911 seven times without having an emergency.
The sheriff’s department later attempted to serve an arrest warrant on Bates for the charge. Upon entering the residence, deputies ordered Bates to put his hands behind his back, but he refused. Bates reportedly kept pulling away from officers, and after a short struggle he was placed in cuffs and taken into custody.
On January 31, 54-year-old William Andy Cantrell of Adcock Cemetery Road, Smithville, was arrested for driving on a revoked suspended license. He was under a $3,500 bond and was set to appear in court on February 16.
A deputy observed Cantrell operating a motor vehicle, with the officer having prior knowledge of the man having a revoked license. He was also cited for possession of a schedule II drug and simple possession of a schedule III drug, after .47 grams of a crystal-like substance believed to be meth was found in a pill bottle, and 7.04 grams of a green leafy substance believed to be marijuana was found in his car.
On February 3, Cantrell was arrested again for driving on a revoked suspended license after another deputy was driving down Jacobs Pillar Road and noticed Cantrell driving a gray Ford vehicle. He is under a $5,000 bond in that case and he will be in court on February 16.
On February 5, 40-year-old Carlos Edward Lopez Stiff of Nashville Highway, Dowelltown, was arrested for DUI second offense. He is under a $6,000 bond and is due in court on February 16.
A deputy responded to the Dollar Store on Cookeville Highway in reference to a male subject passed out in a vehicle. The deputy made contact with Stiff who was allegedly passed out in the driver’s seat of the vehicle. The radio was playing at a high volume and it took multiple attempts to wake the man.
Authorities say that Stiff had a strong odor of alcohol coming from his person and could not tell deputies where he was. Stiff submitted to field sobriety tasks, of which he performed poorly.
