The Smithville Police Department has released their monthly crime report, with several people arrested including one man allegedly responsible for arson cases.

Officials say that the man responsible for setting fire to two vehicles and a house in January of 2021 was indicted on March 28 by the DeKalb County Grand Jury. Authorities say that 22-year-old Jacob Clinton Williams is under indictment for one count of arson and two counts of setting fire to personal property. The case occurred on January 16, 2021 and was investigated by the Smithville Police Department.

“We responded to a call of a car fire at a residence on South College Street,” said Detective Brandon Donnell. “The police and fire departments showed up but the fire was already put out. Only the tire was on fire.”

“About 30 minutes later we got a call of a house fire on Jennings Lane,” Donnell continued. “By the time they (police and fire) got there it (the house) was fully engulfed. Police realized that the car which was on fire on South College Street was registered to the same man who rented the house on Jennings Lane. By the time I was called to the scene another car at the same house on South College Street was lit on fire. They (fire department) arrived and got that put out,” Detective Donnell said.

The following day, Williams became a person of interest to police after his girlfriend came forward with a tip. “I got a phone call the next day from a woman who said her boyfriend, Williams suspected that she may have been seeing the man who lived in the house and owned one of the cars that caught fire. I went to neighbors and viewed video from their security cameras the night of the crimes which showed Williams’ car leaving the fires,” said Detective Donnell.

Police later learned of another incident where Williams almost hit a car head on while traveling Cookeville Highway. “The driver of the car he almost struck turned around and followed Williams to the Dollar General Store near the Interstate and saw him throw something out the window. The next day we (police) went to that location and found a jug of gasoline that we believe he threw out,” Detective Donnell continued.

Police later discovered that Williams had been picked up in Putnam County for unrelated offenses. “We went there to talk with him, but he would not cooperate,” said Detective Donnell. “We then went to his mother’s house and found Williams’ car, which was the same one observed on video leaving the fires the night of the crimes. We took a warrant against him which was served upon his release from custody in Putnam County,” added Detective Donnell.

On March 21, 25-year-old Jason Damon Smith of 678 Blue Springs Road was arrested for Driving on Suspend 2nd offense, and cited for financial responsibility and failure to maintain lane of travel.

Police say they observed a vehicle traveling north on North Congress Boulevard, which crossed the center line of the highway into the southbound traffic. The officer initiated a traffic stop and upon contact with the driver, it was found that Smith had a suspended driver’s license. Smith’s DL was suspended on April 29, 2017 for failure to pay fines. He also had several FTA’s (failure to appear) on his record.

Due to the circumstances, Smith was arrested in lieu of a citation. The vehicle he was driving did not have insurance. He is under a $3,500 bond and is due in court on April 14.

On March 29, 44-year-old Michael Ponder of 711 Robinson Road was arrested for domestic assault. Police were dispatched to a report of an assault and allege that Ponder had grabbed the victim by her right arm, pulling her off the bed, and made attempts to push her down and force her out of the house.

After she got outside, the victim got into her vehicle and Ponder started yelling, threatening her, and kicking her car. He then allegedly started throwing bricks at her vehicle and busted the windshield with her in the vehicle.

Ponder is under a $2,000 bond and appeared in court on April 7.

On April 4, 40-year-old Megan Jo Grooms of 913 Earl Avenue was arrested for domestic assault. Police responded to a physical domestic call and was informed that Grooms had assaulted the victim by hitting him in his mouth and knocking his teeth out. She also allegedly hit him in the hand with his cane. The victim did have injuries to his mouth and hand.

Grooms is under a $3,000 bond and is due in court on April 14.