Brought to you by WBIW News and Network Indiana
Last updated on Monday, March 12, 2012
(BEDFORD) - A Lawrence County jury found Clarence Smith guilty of resisting law enforcement, but not guilty of battery, Friday afternoon.
The jury of three men and three women, deliberated for about 45 minutes.
Smith was arrested in 2010 when he went to the Bedford Police Department to file a complaint against his former son-in-law and BPD Sgt. Greg Hagan.
According to testimony, it was the third time Smith had went to the department to complain about Hagan. BPD Assistant Chief Joe DeWees talked to Smith and told him he didn't believe Hagan had harassed him, but he could fill out a complaint form.
But Smith wanted to talk to Chief Dennis Parsley. DeWees told him he wasn't going to see the chief and would have to leave or he was going to be arrested.
DeWees says Smith then pushed him, knocking him down in an attempt to go up the stairs to Parsley's office. However Smith testified that he fell and grabbed DeWees as he was falling.
After the incident, DeWees and two others scuffled with Smith to get him in handcuffs.
Bedford attorney Scott Callahan presented the case for the defense and Lawrence County Deputy Prosecutor Jody Donaldson presented the state's evidence.
Smith will be sentenced by Lawrence Superior Court I Judge Michael Robbins on the resisting law enforcement charge at 10 a.m. April 4.
1340 AM WBIW welcomes comments and suggestions by calling 812.277.1340 during normal business hours or by email at comments@wbiw.com
© Ad-Venture Media, Inc. All Rights Reserved.