Thief goes on spree with jeweler's debit card

Rescue workers remove Phyllis Joann Buntley from her smashed car following a head-on collision Monday afternoon on Highway 64 East near Shelbyville. Buntley, 40, of Myers Street was westbound when she crossed the center line and struck the outbound Darrell Grubbs, State Trooper Chad McAnally said. Grubbs, 50, of Wartrace, who McAnally said had pulled to the shoulder of the road trying to avoid Buntley was flown from the scene to Vanderbilt University Medical Center with what investigators said were severe leg injuries. Charges are pending against Buntley after an open container of alcohol was found in the car, McAnally said. (T-G Photo by David Melson) [Click to enlarge]

A thief or thieves went on a spending spree with a debit card stolen from a Shelbyville jeweler last week, police say.

The card, belonging to Shelbyville jeweler Billy Lowery, was taken from his car while parked in the garage of his Union Street home.

Approximately $2,500 in purchases have since been made, police said, along with an unsuccessful attempt to buy over $1,000 of goods at Wal-Mart.

Lowery told police he discovered the theft Friday when a representative of a Shelbyville cellular phone store informed him someone had tried to purchase $900 in phones.

Police said Lowery heard a noise in the garage about 1 a.m. Wednesday and discovered the car's door open.

Sex offender found

A registered sex offender allegedly living near East Side Primary School was taken into custody Thursday.

Terrance R. Boughton, 33, whose address is listed as Cedar Grove Road on the report, was living at Laurelwood Apartments, Landers Street, according to information received by Detective Jason Williams of the Shelbyville Police Department.

The apartment complex is within 1,000 feet of the school, Williams said. Registered sex offenders must live further from a school than that distance.

Another complex resident said Boughton had been living with him for two to three months, Williams said.

Boughton was jailed on $10,000 bond.

Tennessee's online Sexual Offender Registry shows Boughton was convicted of statutory rape in 1998 and lists a Depot Street home address. The last information submitted by Boughton was in April, the site says.

Thefts, burglaries

Several hundred dollars was taken last week from a cash box at The Webb School in Bell Buckle, according to a Bedford County Sheriff's Department report.

A school official said $740 was taken from the office of Bill Rice, director of residential life, between 3 p.m. Thursday and 4 p.m. Friday.

Other thefts and burglaries reported to area authorities:

*Two suspects in the robbery of a Shelbyville man's home allegedly nearly ran down the victim with their car while hastily escaping Saturday, police say.

Troy Montez McNary, 21, Burt Street, and a teenage girl from the same address came to the judicial commissioner's office and were charged later Saturday, Officer Josh Leverette said.

Randall Smith told police he'd been notified two persons had entered his residence at Forest Hills Apartments, Neeley Avenue, without permission.

Smith said the apartment's door was open and a male and female were running out as he arrived. They backed their car out quickly, nearly striking Smith.

Several pieces of clothing and $25 were missing, Smith said.

McNary and the girl were identified as suspects after investigation.

*Few items were taken in a breakin at the Sims Road residence of Sanford Corp. workers from Romania late Friday night.

Marcel Sorin Aruxandei lost a laptop computer.

A wallet belonging to Dan Mihailescu containing United States and Romanian currency and his Social Security card is missing, along with a collectible bottle of Jack Daniel's whiskey.

The men said the burglary occurred between 10:30-11:20 p.m. A window was broken to gain entry, Officer Bill Logue said.

*A 1997 Ford Explorer apparently taken from a Shelbyville auto dealership in May was reported stolen Friday.

An employee of Ruby Auto Sales, Madison Street, who is not named in Officer Justin Smith's report, said he found the SUV's title and keys and had no sale records.

*A mixed rat terrier-Chihuahua dog was stolen from the home of Patricia Crowson, Warners Bridge Road, late Saturday morning.

Crowson told police she'd heard later a suspect was trying to give away the dog at a Shelbyville bar.

Didn't get away

Police say they were forced to restrain a woman for allegedly attempting to run from pursuing officers.

Danielle R. Ransom, 28, Cedar River Road, was arrested early Sunday night on Couch Lane.

"She attempted to flee on foot and had to be restrained," Officer Gregg Loyd said. "She had to be issued numerous verbal commands to stop resisting before she finally complied.

Police were investigating another matter at the Couch Lane location when they discovered two outstanding arrest warrants on Ransom.

Ransom was charged with resisting arrest, violation of probation, criminal trespassing and vandalism. She is being held at Bedford County Jail on $13,000 bond.

Accidents

The alleged driver of a car which overturned in the yard of a Bird Street home Saturday night, breaking a utility pole in half, was found after being driven by the scene a few minutes later.

Two homes suffered extensive damage due to the utility lines being pulled loose, Officer Tory Moore's report said.

Registration papers showed the car belonged to Rene N. Amado of another Bird Street address, who allegedly fled after the accident.

Lt. Mike Baker noticed the car containing Amado approach and told the driver to bring him back.

Amado, 26, appeared drunk and was complaining of leg and rib injuries, Loyd said.

Charges of DUI, leaving the scene of an accident and driving without a license or insurance will be filed against Amado upon his recovery, according to police.

*An accident at the dangerous East Depot Street-Bethany Lane intersection Saturday afternoon left one of two drivers injured.

Ray J. Jones, 70, Carlisle Avenue, was taken to Bedford County Medical Center by Bedford County Emergency Medical Service, police said.

Imogene H. McGowan, 61, Old Center Church Road, was listed as uninjured.

Unfriendly wave

One of two men fighting in the parking lot of a Shelbyville motel allegedly waved a horseshoe at emergency medical personnel.

Robert Kerry Branthoover, a resident of Magnolia Motel, South Cannon Boulevard, was described by police as "highly intoxicated" while fighting with the resident of an adjoining room.

The other man, who police said refused treatment for a "severe laceration" atop his head, was not charged.

"Branthoover was told to stay in his room but came out waving a horseshoe at the EMS crew and (the other man) while he was in the ambulance," Officer Jerry Lawrence said.

Police charged Branthoover with public intoxication and disorderly conduct.

Going armed

A switchblade knife and pair of brass knuckles were found on a woman riding with a man accused by police of drag racing.

Yarelis Sanchez, 22, Staley Road, was charged with possession of a prohibited weapon.

The knife fell out of Sanchez's pants as she was being patted down for "officer safety" by Officer Benjamin Burris following a traffic stop early Saturday on East Lane Street. The knuckles were found in the seat where Sanchez had been sitting, Burris said.

Sanchez was riding in a car driven by Donald Lewis Merlo Jr., 33, Union Street, who was charged with driving on a revoked license.

Clarification

Michael Dodd Hix of Craig & Wheeler Realty says he is not the Michael Dwayne Hix, 42, Mullins Chapel Road, who was listed in Sunday's jail intake.

Jail intake

The following persons were arrested since Friday by the Bedford County Sheriff's Department, Shelbyville Police Department, Tennessee Highway Patrol or 17th Judicial District Drug Task Force and processed through Bedford County Jail. They are only charged; guilt or innocence will be determined by the courts.

*Jeana Lorraine Bridenbaker, 39, Mullins Chapel Road; theft of property; released, $2,500 bond

*Michael Dwayne Hix, 42, Mullins Chapel Road; harassment, aggravated criminal trespassing; released, $2,500 bond

*Jeffrey Wayne Mills, 45, Unionville-Deason Road; assault; released, $500 bond

*Joseph Dwayne Williams, 24, Myers Street; driving on revoked/suspended license; released, $500 bond

*Marquis Antwon Anderson, 22, Cedar Street; violation of probation; released, $2,500 bond

*Angela Michelle Mahaffey, 21, Cannon Road; vandalism; released, $500 bond

*Lindsey Jay Puckett Jr., 23, Roundtree Drive; driving on revoked/suspended license; released, $1,500 bond

*Justin Michael Stone, 18, Farrar Heights; violation drinking age law; held, $1,500 bond

*Yarelis Sanchez, 22, Staley Road; possession of a weapon; released, $1,000 bond

*Donald Lewis Merlo Jr., 33, Union Street; driving on revoked/suspended license; released, $1,500 bond

*James Lewis Warren, 24, Cherokee Trail; domestic assault, public intoxication, disorderly conduct; released, $6,000 bond

*Anthony Jason Merlo, 35, Highway 64 West; domestic assault; released, $5,000 bond

*Tanya Renee Sheppard, 26, Landers Street; DUI; released, $3,500 bond

*William Michael Nickelson, 41, Butler Street; violation of probation; released, $2,500 bond

*David Thomas Boyd, 38, Madison Street; violation of probation; released, $2,500 bond

*Tonia Denise Craven, 30, Carter Street; violation of probation; released, $2,500 bond

*Shentonie Devon Jones, 30, Bates Street; violation of probation; released, $2,500 bond

*Thomas Wayne Bryant, 30, Kellertown Road; driving on revoked/suspended license; released, $1,500 bond

*Carter O'Neal Gant, 39, Troupe Road; violation of probation; released, $2,500 bond

*Troy Montez McNary, 21, Burt Street; burglary-aggravated, theft of property; released, $5,500 bond

*Frank Locke Jr., 18, Greer Road; simple possession, aggravated robbery; released, $6,000 bond

*John Lee Turrentine, 42, Chockley Street; criminal trespassing; held, $500 bond

*Mark Anthony Morton, 46, Shadow Drive; DUI, driving on revoked/suspended license; held, $10,500 bond

*Robert Kerry Branthoover, 44, South Cannon Boulevard; public intoxication, disorderly conduct; held, $1,500 bond

*Ernesto Basurto Gonzales, 18, Wartrace-Bell Buckle Road; no driver's license/exhibited on demand, criminal impersonation; released, $3,250 bond

*Ronnie Eugene Freeman, 54, Industrial Parkway; DUI, driving on revoked/suspended license; held, $21,000 bond

*Michael Anthony Arnold, 31, Hickory Hill Church Road; evading arrest; released, $5,000 bond

*Eric Lee Mitchell, 44, Jack Pickle Road; public intoxication; released, $500 bond

*Darren Ray Barb, 22, Lower Halls Mill Road; violation of probation; released, $2,500 bond

*Earnest Franklin Riley, 50, Lewisburg; public intoxication; released, $500 bond

*Brenda Jill Blanton, 34, Tara Drive, Unionville; violation check law; released, $1,000 bond

*David Wayne Smith, 29, Fairground Heights; theft of property; released, $2,500 bond

*Steven Aubrey Leverette, 51, Buzzard Roost Road; violation of probation; released, $2,500 bond

*Danielle Latrice Ransom, 28, Cedar River Road; resist stop/frisk/halt/search, violation of probation, criminal trespassing, vandalism, bondsman surrender; held, $13,000 bond

*Angel Luis Rabelo, 31, Jarrell Street; driving on revoked/suspended license; released, $500 bond

*Jose Antanio Venturo, 23, White Street; domestic assault; held, $5,000 bond

*Kyle Devin Fults, 19, Tullahoma; driving on revoked/suspended license; released, $1,000 bond

*Luis Mejia Ortiz, 37, no address available; public intoxication; held, $500 bond

*Randy Dean Whitaker, 47, Buzzard Roost Road; violation of parole; held, no bond