The DeKalb County Sheriff’s Department arrested a local man after he allegedly violently assaulted and robbed his grandparents.
Sheriff Patrick Ray said that on December 4, 43-year-old John Brent Williams of Four Seasons Road, Smithville, was arrested for two counts of aggravated assault, especially aggravated kidnapping, theft of property, and aggravated robbery. He is under a $230,000 bond and he is due in court on December 19.
On April 16, 2024, a deputy responded to the Sheriff’s Department for a report of a stolen vehicle. Upon arrival, the deputy made contact with two people who advised that the day before Williams, their grandson, pointed a handgun at both subjects, and strangling one and dragging her by the hair on her head. He also reportedly would not let the victim leave the residence.
The victims reported that Williams went into one of the victim’s bedrooms and took a handgun without their consent. Williams allegedly held the grandmother at gunpoint, while telling the grandfather to give him the keys to their vehicle, a 2017 black Ford Escape, worth $11,000. The grandfather handed him the keys, then Williams left in the vehicle.
On November 25, 35-year-old Deangelo Smith of Relax Drive, Smithville, was arrested for contributing to the delinquency of a minor. He is under a $3,500 bond and he is due to appear in court on December 12.
According to Sheriff Ray, a deputy responded to Relax Drive in reference to an altercation between an employee and a child at the Timothy Hill Children’s Ranch. Upon arrival, the deputy made contact with the director who advised that Smith and a 15-year-old male had gotten into a physical altercation.
After reviewing camera footage, it appeared as though the juvenile was being antagonized by Smith. Smith was then placed in custody.
On November 27, 52-year-old Dori Leigh Keith of Toad Road, Dowelltown, was arrested for methamphetamine manufacture deliver sell or possess. She is under a $5,000 bond and her court date is set for December 12.
A deputy was dispatched to the Dollar General Store on Cecil Hale Road for a report of a shoplifter. The deputy made contact with Keith, who matched the description of the suspect.
The deputy asked Keith where the stolen property was, and she allegedly replied that it was in her purse. He then asked if she had anything illegal in her purse, to which she allegedly told the deputy that she had meth.
The deputy then located a clear baggy, in a clear glass container, that contained a crystal-like substance believed to be meth with a total weight of 1.8 grams.
On November 29, 62-year-old Eddie Kenneth Bates of Old West Point Road, Smithville, was arrested for driving under the influence and leaving the scene of an accident. He is under a $3,500 bond and he is due in court on December 19.
A deputy was dispatched to the intersection of Old West Point Road and Midway Road for a report of a single motor vehicle accident. The caller reported that they witnessed the driver of the vehicle flee the scene.
The deputy made contact with a Ford F-150 that had run off of the roadway and struck a fire hydrant, causing damage to the vehicle. There was no driver around the vehicle, but did observe multiple open containers in the floorboard of the truck.
The deputy then went to a home on Old West Point Road, which was the home of the registered owner, Bates. Authorities say Bates had a strong odor of alcohol coming from his person, his speech was slurred and he was unsteady on his feet.
Bates allegedly admitted to consuming a six-pack of beer earlier in the night, and crashing the vehicle. He also allegedly admitted to fleeing from the scene of the accident. He refused to perform field sobriety tasks and was placed in custody.
On December 1, 66-year-old Wilford Wayne Ford of Banks Pisgah Road, Smithville, was arrested for domestic assault. He is under a $3,500 bond and is due in court on December 19.
Authorities allege that Ford struck his daughter in the face causing redness to her right side, during an argument. The daughter alleged that Ford had pulled her out of a running vehicle causing her to fear for her safety.
Sheriff Ray said that afterwards, Williams went to Kentucky where he was arrested on several charges. DeKalb waited until he could be extradited back to the county, after serving his time in Kentucky.
On December 6, 52-year-old Marina Gae Skinner of Fisher Avenue, Smithville, was arrested for violation of an order of protection. She is under a $3,500 bond and will appear in court on December 19.
A deputy was patrolling East Broad Street in Smithville when he noticed Skinner operating a 2017 red Dodge Journey. The deputy had prior knowledge that Skinner did not have insurance on the vehicle due to having issued citations in the past.
During a traffic stop, the deputy made contact with Skinner and another subject in the vehicle. After a check through dispatch, it was revealed that Skinner had an order of protection against her from the passenger in the vehicle.
On December 7, 21-year-old Steven Dewayne Davenport of Hearthwood Drive, Sparta was arrested for driving on a suspended driver’s license, violation of an order of protection, DUI, and was cited for driving on roadways laned for travel. He is under a $10,500 bond, and is due in court on December 19.
A deputy was patrolling Sparta Highway when he observed a white Nissan Versa leave its lane of travel. After a traffic stop, Davenport advised that he was coming to the gentlemen’s club to drop off food for his girlfriend. A check through dispatch showed that there was an active order of protection out of White County, served on November 13, 2024, with the woman at the gentlemen’s club being the protected person.
Authorities also say that Davenport had a strong odor of alcohol coming from his person, was unsteady on his feet, red watery eyes, and slurred speech. Davenport’s license had been suspended for failing to provide proof of insurance on January 8, 2024, in White County. He was asked, but refused to take field sobriety tasks.
