Newton Police Department
• Wendy J. Smith, 44, of Newton, was charged with domestic abuse, assault and driving while license denied/revoked for an incident that occurred at 1:30 p.m. Aug. 11 in a residence near the 500 block of West Fifth Street South. According to police reports, Smith was involved in a fight with her mother and sister, as observed by a passing motorist who saw her physically grab her elderly mother. The witness confronted Smith, who fled the scene in a red Chevy Impala before cops could arrive. Officers were told Smith also assaulted her sister. Smith’s actions caused visible red marks and bruising on the left arm of her moth, police say. Smith returned to the scene with the vehicle at 2:19 p.m. Smith was later arrested and taken into custody at Jasper County Jail.
• Jason T. Purtillo, 37, of Newton, was charged with public intoxication for an incident that occurred at 1:30 p.m. Aug. 14 near the 100 block of First Street South. Newton Police Department was dispatched to the area of First Avenue and First Street in reference to a male sleeping on the sidewalk. Upon arrival, an officer confirmed Purtillo was still asleep and was difficult to wake up. When he was able to, officers noticed his eyes were bloodshot and watery and his speech was slurred and incoherent. He was seen by an ambulance on scene but would not tell them what was wrong with him. Purtillo then began clenching his fists and mock hitting the officer and medics. When he was at the hospital to be cleared for confinement, Purtillo stated repeatedly he drinks because he is an alcoholic and has nowhere to go. Purtillo has four previous convictions of public intoxication. He was later taken into custody at Jasper County Jail.
• Randy G. Dickerson, 35, of Newton, was charged with forgery for an incident that occurred at 10:10 p.m. Aug. 13 near the 700 block of First Avenue East. Newton Police Department was dispatched to McDonald’s for a report of a male attempting to pass a counterfeit $100 bill. The officer arrived on scene and observed Dickerson standing at the counter. The manager advised him what Dickerson was attempting to do and provided the officer the $100 bill that had the word “COPY” on the back. The bill also did not contain the security strip inside. Dickerson was taken into custody at Jasper County Jail.