A now-former Richmond Police Department officer faces a felony charge for allegedly assaulting a man with a taser, the Contra Costa County District Attorney's Office announced last week.
On April 9 at 1 a.m., former officer Eric Smith Jr. was attempting to arrest a man in Richmond for a previous car chase incident, according to the filing. After failed attempts to stun the man with a Taser, Smith physically hit him with the device enough times to cause "great bodily injury to the victim," according to the district attorney.
The Richmond Police Department terminated Smith from the force on Aug. 3, and filed the case to the district attorney.
Smith also faces enhancements for causing great bodily harm and for the use of a dangerous weapon.
The Contra Costa County Superior Court will set his arrangement date.
Comments
Registered user
Danville
on Aug 10, 2022 at 8:44 am
Registered user
on Aug 10, 2022 at 8:44 am
Yet another unwarranted police beating incident.
Kudos to the Richmond PD for terminating the rogue officer and referring the case to the Contra Costa County DA's office for prosecution.
Registered user
Danville
on Aug 10, 2022 at 11:08 am
Registered user
on Aug 10, 2022 at 11:08 am
Beating a suspect into submission with a taser gun is indicative of poor training and poor judgement on the part of the police officer.
Another police impropriety = another lawsuit...just ask the Town of Danville.
Registered user
San Ramon
on Aug 11, 2022 at 9:01 am
Registered user
on Aug 11, 2022 at 9:01 am
Don't police officers still carry billy clubs for this purpose?
Using a taser to pistol-whip a suspect into submission will most certainly raise a few questions in terms of professionalism and technique.
Registered user
San Ramon
on Aug 12, 2022 at 8:06 am
Registered user
on Aug 12, 2022 at 8:06 am
>> County DA charges police officer for allegedly beating arrestee with stun gun
"...indicative of poor training and poor judgement on the part of the police officer."
"Another police impropriety = another lawsuit...just ask the Town of Danville."
Sad but true.
Registered user
Walnut Creek
on Aug 12, 2022 at 9:19 am
Registered user
on Aug 12, 2022 at 9:19 am
Teaching our children to accept others and to refrain from bullying is a responsibility of both teachers and parents.
Who's responsibility is it to teach police officers the same concept?
Registered user
Danville
on Aug 12, 2022 at 3:41 pm
Registered user
on Aug 12, 2022 at 3:41 pm
It is interesting that there are no comments from the few people who support poor police behavior like this and OfficerHall and criticize the DA.
Registered user
Danville
on Aug 13, 2022 at 6:43 am
Registered user
on Aug 13, 2022 at 6:43 am
Fortunately the suspect was not killed during this questionable police action as there have been past incidents where an officer 'mistakenly' grabbed his/her service weapon thinking it was a taser resulting in another police-related shooting.
Still...the image of a rogue cop banging away on a suspect's head with taser weapon leaves something to be desired.
Registered user
Walnut Creek
on Aug 13, 2022 at 7:18 am
Registered user
on Aug 13, 2022 at 7:18 am
Picture the scenario...a poorly trained officer having failed to subdue a suspect with his taser, starts hitting him with it.
This is almost comical and fortunately no one was hurt.
Registered user
another community
on Aug 13, 2022 at 9:03 am
Registered user
on Aug 13, 2022 at 9:03 am
"It is interesting that there are no comments from the few people who support poor police behavior like this and OfficerHall and criticize the DA."
^ I imagine that even the pro-police 'law and order' types are shaking their heads at this blatant display of unprofessionalism and inneptitude.
Registered user
another community
on Aug 13, 2022 at 9:14 am
Registered user
on Aug 13, 2022 at 9:14 am
> Picture the scenario...a poorly trained officer having failed to subdue a suspect with his taser, starts hitting him with it.
This is almost comical and fortunately no one was hurt.
^ This is something one would expect to see in one of those 'Police Academy' movies.
Registered user
Danville
on Aug 13, 2022 at 11:42 am
Registered user
on Aug 13, 2022 at 11:42 am
The officer involved in this farce will face minimal punishment because the suspect was not seriously injured or killed.
His attorney will argue that the officer seriously believed that his life was in imminent danger and rather than resorting to the questionable use of his firearm, the officer opted to repeatedly bash the suspect over the head with a taser gun.
The 'pro-police/law & order' types will most likely consider this indescretion as a humanistic gesture.
Registered user
Walnut Creek
on Aug 13, 2022 at 4:20 pm
Registered user
on Aug 13, 2022 at 4:20 pm
The video account of this incident as seen on the local news was very brutal and the suspect was badly beaten by the officer.
The officer in question is African American and the suspect was Hispanic.
Registered user
San Ramon
on Aug 16, 2022 at 9:32 am
Registered user
on Aug 16, 2022 at 9:32 am
@Kevin,
Your idea - and lack of experience - regarding poor police behavior, appears to focus more on what a police officer does wrong, versus what a police officer does right.
@Mallory
You are spot on!
@Wes,
In this case, the officer was wrong, criminally wrong. There is no defense, or justification for his actions. If you think the officer will face minimal punishment, guess again. The officer in question appears to have committed assault under the color of authority. He also used his taser in a manner not taught, or allowed by the manufacturer - which could lead to a felony. In addition, Internal Affairs will nail him for conduct unbecoming of a police officer, violation of merit system rules, etc. Either way, his career is over.
By the way Wes, you were doing fine until you mentioned the “pro-police types.” Anti-cop, are we? Or possibly one dimensional? I’m pro-cop, but like every profession, you have bad apples. At least I can see both sides.