Former Big Isle officer charged in 2014 assault found dead
KAILUA-KONA » A former Big Island police officer has died two days before he was scheduled to change his plea in an assault case.
West Hawaii Today reports that John Smith Jr. was found dead Sunday. Police say they have called for a coroner’s investigation into his death, although there is no indication of foul play.
Smith was charged with second-degree assault for an alleged 2014 attack on a man in police custody. He was accused of dragging the suspected squatter by his hair, slamming him against a police vehicle and assaulting him inside the car.
Smith had been off duty at the time.
It’s unclear if Smith’s proposed plea change, scheduled for Tuesday, would be to guilty or no contest.
Deputy Prosecutor Kauanoe Jackson says she couldn’t comment on the plea agreement.
11 responses to “Former Big Isle officer charged in 2014 assault found dead”
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He’s not for nor the last that officers snap.
Squatters should be dealt with like he did.
Pressure of the job. Perhaps the anti-police sentiments was too much!
So he cracked under the pressure of anti-police sentiment and while off-duty went looking for someone to grab by the air and slam into a car? Sorry to hear of his death but glad he is no longer wearing the uniform.
couldn’t face the music.
People want action with squatters and trespassers, maybe not that much, but someone needs to do something!
Handcuff the cops then who is going to handle the criminals and trespassers? It is not illegal to be homeless but it is not okay to pitch tent anywhere you feel like and mouth off and harass people just because you think you are within your rights. All this politically correctness has given us is a growing and belligerent homeless population planting themselves to their liking if there is no authority to request that they move on.
This is a coroner’s case but no indication of foul play??
Right. Unattended deaths are always investigated to eliminate or confirm the possibility of foul play.
He would have only received a slap on the wrist if he plead guilty. No reason to kill yourself.
The case is moot because a higher court has passed sentence.