Carroll County Sheriff’s Reports

Driving While License Suspended — On November 24, Deputy Jeremy Smith conducted a traffic stop on Highway 79 in Trezevant after observing a vehicle fail to come to a complete stop at a stop sign near Oak Grove Road in Trezevant. The driver, Lisa Townes, 59, of McKenzie, was identified and a driver’s license check revealed that her license was suspended.

Townes also had a prior conviction for driving while license canceled out of Henry County General Sessions Court on October 15, 2016. Her current suspension was issued for failure to pay fines and costs, with a non-compliance suspension beginning Aug. 17, 2023, and no reinstatement date.

Townes was cited into Carroll County General Sessions Court for driving while license suspended. The incident occurred in Carroll County.

Felony Evading Arrest / Child Endangerment / Driving on Revoked — On December 1, Sgt. Jason Walker and Deputy Bo Ezell arrived at a residence on Old Lavinia Road in Cedar Grove to serve an active arrest warrant on an individual at the location. While deputies were attempting to make contact, a pickup truck began driving up the driveway toward the home. Upon seeing patrol units, the driver immediately reversed at a high rate of speed and fled down the driveway. Deputy Ezell activated his blue lights and siren, attempting to stop the vehicle, which continued to flee intentionally.

As the driver approached the intersection of Highway 70 from Old Lavinia Road, he nearly struck another vehicle while attempting to evade deputies. The fleeing vehicle, a 1998 Toyota pickup, ultimately stopped at a residence on Hickory Flat Road in Cedar Grove.

Deputies made contact with the driver, identified as David Wayne Brown, 44, of Cedar Grove, and took him into custody without further incident. Brown’s 12-year-old son was found in the passenger seat during the pursuit. A driver’s license check revealed Brown’s license was revoked for failure to satisfy fines and costs out of Madison County Circuit Court, and he also had an active warrant out of Madison County for violation of community corrections.

Brown was transported to the Carroll County Jail and charged with felony evading arrest, child endangerment, driving on a revoked license (4th offense) and reckless endangerment.

This incident occurred in Carroll County.

Disorderly Conduct / Public Intoxication — On November 29, deputies responded to a disturbance on a county roadway involving Billy Joe Pardue, 31, of Hollow Rock. Deputies were advised that Pardue had been outside screaming and yelling toward individuals at a nearby residence from roughly 40 feet off the roadway. Pardue then walked into the public roadway, continuing to yell.

When deputies made contact with Pardue, he appeared intoxicated and smelled strongly of an alcoholic beverage. Witnesses stated Pardue had been attempting to start a fight with a family member and had gotten into his face, leading the family member to defend himself by placing Pardue on the ground. Pardue left briefly but returned and continued yelling from the roadway, demanding the family member leave the property, though deputies confirmed the property did not belong to Pardue.

Deputies located Pardue walking in the roadway and detained him, returning him to the original scene. Pardue made suicidal threats, stating he would harm himself if law enforcement arrived, but deputies confirmed he had no firearms on his person. Prior to deputies’ arrival, Pardue had broken the driver’s side window of his father’s truck, reportedly attempting to retrieve a rifle; however, the property owner declined to pursue charges for the damage.

Pardue was taken into custody for disorderly conduct and public intoxication.

This incident occurred in Carroll County.

DUI (second offense) / Violation of Implied Consent — On November 20, at around 8 p.m., deputies responded to a report from a taxi company out of Paris, which advised that it had lost contact with one of its drivers. The vehicle was described as a white Ford Fusion. Deputy McClure searched the area and located the vehicle parked at the Y-intersection in Atwood with the driver passed out in the front seat.

Deputies made contact with the driver, identified as Clinton Elroy Smith, 41, of Paris. As Smith exited the vehicle, deputies detected a strong odor of an alcoholic beverage coming from his breath and clothing. Smith exhibited slurred speech, glassy eyes, and was unsteady on his feet. A bottle of Crown Royal was visible in the cup holder, and Smith admitted to drinking two small bottles earlier in the evening.

Smith consented to a search of the vehicle, during which deputies located two additional empty 50mL bottles, one Crown Royal and one Jack Daniels. Deputy McClure requested Smith perform standardized field sobriety exercises.

During the tests, Smith showed numerous indicators of impairment, including lack of balance, failure to follow instructions, repeated stopping, and confusion regarding counting sequences and test procedures.

Smith was placed under arrest for suspicion of DUI. When asked to submit to a blood sample, Smith refused. He was advised of implied consent requirements and again refused to sign the paperwork. A search warrant was obtained for the blood draw, and Smith was transported to Baptist Hospital, where the sample was collected shortly before 11:30 p.m. Smith later stated, “I had no need to be driving.”

Smith was transported to the Carroll County Jail and charged with DUI (second offense) and violation of implied consent.

This incident occurred in Carroll County.

DUI Arrest — On November 22, deputies were dispatched to Westport Road in Huntingdon for a report of a suspicious vehicle parked in the roadway. Deputies arrived and found a Ford F-150 in drive with the keys in the ignition and the driver passed out behind the wheel.

When awakened, Shannon Christopher Thrasher, 49, of Waynesboro, showed clear signs of impairment, including slurred speech, vomiting, and difficulty maintaining balance. A license check revealed he was revoked for DUI and restricted to vehicles equipped with an ignition interlock device, which the truck did not have.

Field sobriety exercises were administered, and Thrasher was unable to complete them as instructed. He was placed under arrest and advised of his Miranda rights and Tennessee’s Implied Consent Law. He agreed to provide a blood sample and was transported to Baptist Memorial Hospital before being taken to the Carroll County Jail for booking.

This incident occurred in Carroll County.