During last week’s meeting of the City of Clarksville Parking Commission, Commission member Andrea Herrera asked a reporter to stop recording a portion of the public meeting, in violation of the state’s open meeting act, which allows for all portions of a meeting to be viewed, accessed, and recorded as a matter of public record. Herrera also asked for a special parking exception to be made for one of her employees, which seems to be a direct conflict of interest to her new role, and was visibly upset when the other commissioners didn’t necessarily accommodate her.
Category: Local News
Soldier deemed too drunk for the Electric Cowboy — Steven Becerra arrested
27-year-old Fort Campbell soldier Steven Becerra was ousted from the Electric Cowboy Saturday night and was escorted out by security. He ignored requests to call for a ride and to leave the property, and also refused to call for a ride when officers arrived. Due to his level of intoxication, he was transported to booking and charged with public intoxication.
DUI: Army wife crashes into tree at 5 a.m. Sunday — Ryeojin Cheon arrested
CPD Officer Justin Bolden responded to Victory Road just before 6 a.m. on February 20th, where 40-year-old Ryeojin Cheon had crashed her vehicle into a tree. She reportedly reeked of alcohol and performed poorly on all field sobriety tests. She is charged with DUI.
APSU: After 400mg edible, Aila Thomas kicks cop in groin, screams “I’m high as hell!”
20-year-old Aila Michel Thomas says she ate a 400mg marijuana brownie bar shortly before she kicked APSU Campus Police Officer Levi Grubb in his groin and assaulted Officer Gabby Linn. The two had responded to a 911 hangup call from Eriksson Hall to find Thomas running around the common area of the dorm screaming “I’m high as hell!” and stating she was about to pass out.
Man charged with slamming girlfriend’s head into kitchen floor — Riley Fairbert
26-year-old Riley Fairbert is charged with the domestic assault of his girlfriend, Hannah Picklesimer, after she reported to police he slammed her head into the kitchen floor “shared enough for her to see spots” after several arguments. Officers documented a mark on her head as well as several strands of hair where her head impacted the floor.
Agents get a surprise from UPS while executing a controlled FedEx delivery of marijuana to a Clarksville home
Agents with the 19th Judicial District Drug Task Force got a surprise as they prepared to execute a controlled delivery of 15 pounds of marijuana that had been intercepted in a FedEx shipment on February 15th. As they were conducting surveillance on the Faye Drive home in Clarksville after they had delivered the package, a UPS delivery truck arrived and dropped off an unexpected identical box at the home. A short time later, 37-year-long Shaneka Anjel Long 27-year-old Byron Brown arrived in a Jeep and took both packages inside.
Agents executed the search warrant and located their known package of 15 pounds of marijuana, and the UPS package, which was an additional 15-pound package of marijuana. In total, 30 pounds of marijuana were seized, in addition to various drugs and paraphernalia throughout the house and Jeep, including crack cocaine, a digital scale, and a handgun.
Man charged with assault after making threats to another man — Courtney James
Police were patrolling 1600 Ft. Campbell Blvd when they observed 20-year-old Courtney James and another man having a “heated argument” during which James threatened to kill the other man. During a pat-down of James, officers located a pocket knife with a 2.5″ blade which was open in his pocket. He was charged with assault due to the victim being put in a state of fear due to his statements.
Man admits to drinking, actually PASSES field sobriety tests — Zla Holder
Clarksville Police say 30-year-old Zla Holder failed to completely stop at a stop sign on the night of February 12th while driving his silver Ford F-150. As officer Steven Davis initiated a traffic stop and approached the vehicle, Holder fled the vehicle and ran behind a row of houses in the neighborhood. He was located soon after and gave consent to search his vehicle. Officers located an open bottle of Jameson, an open can of Mike’s Twisted Tea, two empty bottles of brandy, and 0.99 grams of marijuana.
Holder admitted to drinking at the casino earlier and consuming some of the Twisted Tea drink. Police say that “due to his ability to run while evading arrest, and successful completion of field sobriety tests” he was not charged with DUI.
Joseph Aaron Smith indicted by Grand Jury in 2020 rape case
24-year-old Joseph Aaron Smith was recently served with a Grand Jury Indictment charging him in a 2020 rape of a 26-year-old woman. He is free on a $12,000 bond.
Man charged with strangling girlfriend while driving — Jalan Gibson
Naomi Pfundt says she was in an argument with her boyfriend, 23-year-old Jalan Gibson, on their way home and it became physical when he grabbed her by the neck and began to strangle her while driving. She says she briefly lost consciousness during the assault. Gibson, who goes by “Islah Hood” on social media, had fled the scene but was located near Gary Matthew’s and taken into custody after a short foot pursuit.
Woman gives fake name, but they both have suspended licenses — Kaliyah Ellis arrested
Police stopped a Chevy HHR with expired tags on February 16th, and the driver identified herself as Zantwinette Ellis, who showed as having a suspended driver’s license. Officers placed the woman into custody, and while en route to booking, admitted she lied about her identity, and she was really 24-year-old Kaliyah Ellis. It turns out her license was also suspended.
Woman calls 911 to report husband, she ends up in jail — Elizabeth Ohlschwager arrested
38-year-old Elizabeth ‘Beth’ Ohlschwager called 911 to report her husband, Jeremy Ohlschwager, had pushed her to the ground during an argument on Valentine’s Day and then left the scene. Police arrived and interviewed Beth, and Jeremy soon returned to the residence. He explained the couple had an argument about a phone and she bit him on the wrist. As he attempted to retreat to prevent any further escalation, she fell to the ground after biting him. Police documented a fresh bite mark injury to Jeremy’s wrist. Now that officers had the full story, they took Beth into custody, and she spent Valentine’s night in jail.
Man says roommate assaulted him when he refused his sexual advances on Valentine’s Day — Devante Ruffin
25-year-old Devante LaDavid Ruffin is charged with the felony aggravated domestic assault of his roommate, Richard Smith. Just before midnight on Valentine’s Day, Smith says Ruffin approached him at their shared apartment, demanding sexual favors from him. When Smith declined his advances, he says Ruffin grabbed him by the neck, assaulted him, and broke a liquor bottle across his face. Police documented an injury to the side of the victim’s face and bruising around his neck.
Soldier calls 911 from Speedway at 3AM: “Send every available officer!” — Joseph Cammarata
21-year-old soldier Joseph Cammarata walked into the Speedway on Providence Blvd, picked up the phone, called 911, and demanded that every available officer should responder there, now, without any further explanation. An officer arrived to find a very intoxicated Cammarata. He refused assistance in finding a ride home, and admitted to having “a few beers”.
He took her on a date, she took him for $1660 — Zola Greer arrested
20-year-old Zola Greer says she went on a date with Ezekiel ‘Zeke’ Abegg and had linked his credit card to her phone when they were paying for a movie, which was the only consent she had to use the card. Mr. Abegg soon noticed $1,660.88 of unauthorized spending on his card. Greer admitted to police she used his card without permission and stated she had told him she would return the money, which she had not yet done. She is charged with felony credit card fraud.
Maria Gonzalez charged with assault of husband after shoe-throwing goes wrong
Police say 28-year-old Maria Gonzalez admits to throwing her husband’s shoes down the stairs, and he also admits to throwing hers. After he threw her shoes down the stairs, she pushed and assaulted him, leaving him with a scratch on his neck. She’s charged with domestic assault.
Woman escapes via bedroom window after boyfriend, Robert Sikes, assaults her
Clarksville Police say 34-year-old Robert Sikes was in a verbal argument with his girlfriend, Brianna Teague, about their relationship on Valentine’s Day, and when things began to get physical he reportedly took her phone, so she attempted to use his phone to call 911. Before she could complete the call he held her in a bear-hug for multiple minutes, and eventually escalated to placing her in a headlock. As she was losing consciousness, he took his phone from her and released his grip on her. She attempted to run out the front door, but he continued to block her path, so eventually escaped through a bedroom window, and retreated to a neighbor’s home where she called 911.
Surrender of Clarksville event at Fort Defiance February 19th
Fort Defiance Interpretive Center will host a living history event from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 19, to commemorate the surrender of Fort Defiance to Union soldiers in 1862.
Addition of ParkMobile app allows almost-free downtown parking — The city’s new nightmare
Thanks to the addition of the ParkMobile app to the existing parking meter infrastructure, and the fact that the two systems can’t communicate – you can park downtown in a metered space for as little as $2 for the entire day — and there’s nothing the city can do to stop it without removing either “1st-hour free parking” or getting rid of the ParkMobile app. Here’s how… and you never even have to leave your office, workplace, or downtown home, thanks to the app.
City says it will accept & keep payments made during free parking times; won’t disable app
In response to an inquiry from Clarksville Today, Clarksville Parking Manager Michael Palmore says the city will not disable the new ParkMobile app (which is now used to pay for downtown parking) during city regulated ‘free parking’ hours on evenings, nights, and weekends. Palmore stated he doesn’t want visitors to “get comfortable with free parking” and if they pay during “free parking time” without knowing the rules, the city will simply pocket the money.
Palmore added that “anyone who has paid [on nights/weekends] is probably a visitor”. There are no clear signs posted about free parking on nights/weekends when using the new app, and it sends reminders during free periods that payment is required.
