Carroll County Sheriff's Reports

Criminal Trespassing, Theft of Property, Vandalism, Driving on Revoked License — On July 2, Deputy Heather Townes responded to Ball Creek Road in Buena Vista after a farmer reported seeing an unauthorized person on private property. The driver was identified as James Williams, 46, of Clarksburg. Deputies contacted the property owner, who advised no one had permission to be on the property except the farmer.

Upon arrival, deputies found Williams parked between an aluminum camper trailer and a mobile home that appeared to have been vacant for an extended period. Williams claimed he had permission to clean up the property because he and his late father had once lived there. The property owner denied giving Williams permission and advised they had previously had an altercation after Williams threatened him several years earlier.

Deputies discovered the aluminum camper had been extensively dismantled. Cabinets, furniture, insulation and other interior materials had been removed and piled nearby, while much of the aluminum had already been cut away. Freshly cut aluminum was found in the bed of Williams' pickup truck, and deputies located metal-cutting tools inside the cab. Investigators also learned farmers had previously seen a truck matching Williams' parked at the same location around June 17, leading them to believe someone had been returning to the property multiple times to remove material.

Williams was charged with criminal trespassing, theft of property under $1,000, vandalism and driving on a revoked license. This incident occurred in Carroll County.

Domestic Assault, Aggravated Assault — On July 2, Deputy Lucas Coleman responded to a domestic disturbance at a residence on Hebron Church Road in Bruceton. Deputies made contact with the victim, who reported being assaulted by Joseph Berryhill, 43, of Bruceton.

The victim stated Berryhill became angry after breaking up a dispute between two younger children. According to the victim, Berryhill placed his finger on the victim's nose, and after the victim pushed his hand away and asked not to be touched, Berryhill attempted to punch the victim. The victim retreated to a bathroom with a younger sibling, but Berryhill followed, pushed the victim into a bathtub, then waited outside the bathroom. When the victim exited, Berryhill allegedly grabbed the victim by the throat and began choking the victim.

Deputies observed injuries consistent with the victim's account, including visible red marks around the neck and additional marks extending from the wrist to the shoulder. Berryhill denied placing his hands on the victim but admitted he may have become too heated during the incident. Berryhill was arrested and charged with domestic assault and aggravated assault. This incident occurred in Carroll County.

Vicious Dog Citation — On July 3, Deputy James Boaz responded to a dog attack complaint in Atwood after a complainant reported being injured while attempting to protect a puppy during an attack. Deputies later identified the dog's owner as Stephanie Fowler, 36, of Atwood.

The complainant reported walking a 7-month-old blue heeler puppy home from the post office when a brown boxer/pit bull mix ran from a nearby residence and aggressively approached. As the two dogs fought, the complainant attempted to separate them, fell into a ditch and suffered injuries to the shoulder, neck and upper body. The complainant was eventually able to kick the attacking dog away, and it returned to a nearby shed.

Deputy Boaz advised he recognized the residence from a previous complaint involving the same dog and had previously warned Fowler to keep the dog confined. Fowler acknowledged owning the dog. Fowler was cited for a vicious dog violation and ordered to report to the Carroll County Jail within 10 days for booking. This incident occurred in Carroll County.

Reckless Endangerment Involving a Weapon — On July 4, Deputy Heather Townes responded to a residence on Maytown Road in Buena Vista after a homeowner reported discovering what appeared to be a bullet hole in the rear of the home. Deputies observed a quarter-sized hole that had penetrated the vinyl siding and exterior wall sheathing. Based on the angle and damage, investigators believed the hole was caused by a falling bullet fired into the air.

The projectile could not be recovered because it had become lodged inside the wall and did not completely penetrate the residence. The homeowner advised the damage was first noticed on June 30 but was initially believed to have been caused by a rock thrown from a lawn mower. After further inspection revealed the extent of the damage, the incident was reported to the Sheriff's Office. This incident occurred in Carroll County.

Driving Without a License — On July 5, Deputy Alex Sherwood conducted a traffic stop after observing a vehicle disregard a stop sign at the intersection of Lexington Street and Highway 22 South in Huntingdon. The driver was identified as Diego Silvestre, 25, of Nashville. Deputies determined Silvestre did not possess a valid driver's license and was unable to provide proof of financial responsibility.

Following the investigation, Silvestre was transported to the Carroll County Jail. An immigration detainer was also placed on him by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Silvestre was charged with driving without a license. This incident occurred in Carroll County.