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Name:
Smith, Bruce David
Date of Booking:
02/23/2025
Reason(s) For Booking:
AGGRAVATED BATTERY
Officer’s Narrative:
[Please note: The following is a direct transcription from the official initial incident report. The Georgia Gazette does not fix any spelling or grammatical errors that may exist. Any changes or redactions made by our staff are placed inside brackets. Some errors may exist. All subjects are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. The topics discussed may be sensitive to some readers. Discretion is advised.]
[NARRATIVE #1 on February 22, 2025]
On 02/22/2025 I was dispatched to a domestic altercation at [200 BLOCK] Carpenter Rd. Upon arrival we were met at the driveway by the complainant (Carolyn Smith) who advised us that her husband (Bruce Smith) had beaten her and bit part of her ear off. She advised that he had a gun and had left the scene in a silver passenger car. She also advised she believed he went to his parents house next door. I advised Ms. Smith to stay where she was then myself and OFC. Smith started checking the area for Mr. Smith. We cleared the building that was in the yard and then proceeded to clear the residence. After clearing the residence we cleared the camper in the driveway.
After securing the scene we then met up with Capt. Johnson, PFC Laner, and PFC. Carranza who were holding a perimeter around the parents house. I held cover for OFC. Smith as he gave verbal commands for Mr. Smith to exit the residence with his hands above his head and empty. After calling out multiple times Mr. Smith exited the residence with his hands above his head. At this time I repositioned myself to the edge over the driveway and aimed my service pistol at Mr. Smith until we insured that his hands were clear and he did not have any weapons. Mr. Smith was placed under arrest.
Myself and PFC. Carranza then proceeded to check the home to make sure there were not any open doors or anyone at the residence. After securing the residence we went down to OFC. Smith’s patrol vehicle where we stood by as PFC. Newport and OFC. Smith questioned Mr. Smith.
[End of Narrative]
[NARRATIVE #2 on February 23, 2025]
On 02/23/2025 at 0021 hours, I was dispatched to a physical domestic fight at [200 BLOCK] Carpenter Rd. While enroute to the address dispatch advised me the female stated “He is trying to kill me. He bit my ear off. He has a gun in his hands.” I activated my blue lights and audible siren and responded in emergency fashion. Upon arrival to the address dispatch advised the male had possibly left in a silver passenger car. Myself and OFC Rickett made contact with the female outside her house. She advised he was in the field up above the house. Due to him possibly being armed and posing eminent threat to our safety as well as hers, we continued on to the area she was describing. We went down a gravel driveway at [200 BLOCK] Carpenter Rd. We made our way back to the residence of [200 BLOCK] Carpenter Rd. I cleared multiple out buildings at which point EMS and PFC Dutton had Carolyn in their care. OFC Rickett, PFC Bray and myself cleared the main residence and then PFC Dutton joined us where we cleared the Camper outside.
CPT Johnson, SPCLanier, PFC Carranza and CPL Newport made their way to [200 BLOCK] Carpenter Rd. They observed a silver passenger car with tag number belonging to Bruce Smith. They formed a perimeter around the house. Myself and OFC Rickett proceeded to the residence where I turned on my blue lights. I began to announce on my car’s PA system. I announced that I was with County Police and told Bruce Smith to come outside with his hands open and empty. I made multiple announcements with this same statement. After multiple announcements, Bruce Smith came outside with his hands open and empty. Due to still believing he was armed, I positioned myself with my department pistol pointed at him. I maintained this position until officers close by were able to gain control of him.
He was detained into handcuffs behind the back and double locked checking for proper fit. He was read miranda rights by CPL Newport and interviewed by him. He was then placed into the backseat of patrol vehicle 40. I transported him to the jail where he was medically cleared and booked in.
Report still active. See CPL Newports supplemental report.
[End of Narrative]
[NARRATIVE #3 on February 23, 2025]
On the above date and time I, Officer B. NEWPORT, with the Floyd County Police Department, responded with other law enforcement officers to [200 BLOCK] Carpenter Rd in reference to a domestic dispute. 911 advised that the complaint stated her husband was trying to kill her, and was armed with a firearm. We were also advised that the complaint’s ear was bitten off by her husband. I responded to the location with my lights and audible siren activated.
Upon arrival, Officers Smith and Rickett, had already made contact with the victim, CAROLYN SMITH, and were in the process of searching the area for her husband BRUCE SMITH. We learned that Mr. SMITH had possibly went to his parent’s address next door, and was still possibly armed. At this point, Captain Johnson, PFC Lanier, PFC Carranza, and myself made our way up the driveway to Mr. SMITH’s parent’s residence to make contact with him. Due to the nature of the call, and the fair probability that Mr. SMITH was still armed, we surrounded the residence, and had PFC SMITH gave Mr. SMITH verbal commands using his patrol vehicle PA system to exit the residence and surrender. Mr. SMITH complied with the directions of officers, and was peacefully taken into custody.
At this time, I read Mr. SMITH his Miranda rights and asked if he would speak to me about the incident to which he agreed. Mr SMITH stated that he and Mrs. SMITH had attend the funeral services of his parents earlier in the day, and had returned home. Once home, Mr. SMITH stated that the two began to consume alcohol, and had been drinking since approximately 4pm. Mr. SMITH stated that at some point, he had went to lay down on the couch, and was awoken by Mrs. SMITH who had a gun pointed at him. Mr SMITH stated that he begged Mrs. SMITH not to shoot him, and attempted to get the gun away from her. Mr SMITH stated that that a physical confrontation then ensued, and he was bitten by his wife on his finger. Mr. SMITH stated that he then bit Mrs. SMITH’s ear. I did observe what appeared to be bite marks on Mr. SMITH’s fingers and multiple scratches and cuts to his arms and back. Mr SMITH stated that he was only defending himself because Mrs SMITH had a gun pointed at him and he thought she was going to shoot him. Mr SMITH was placed in PFC Smith’s patrol vehicle, and was transported to Floyd County jail.
I then made my way to Redmond Hospital to speak with Mrs. SMITH. Mrs. SMITH appeared to be intoxicated, and stated that the was trying to remember what all happened. Mrs. SMITH stated that she and Mr. SMITH had gotten into an argument, and stated that they both had been drinking since they returned home from the residence. Mrs. SMITH stated that Mr. SMITH was calling her names, which made her angry. Mrs SMITH stated that she had confronted Mr. SMITH, and Mr SMITH told her to get away from him and leave him alone. Mrs. SMITH stated she refused to leave him alone because he had called her a “b*tch”. Mrs. SMITH stated that the argument turned physical, and Mr. SMITH was threatening to kill her. Mrs. SMITH then made the comment “he took the gun away from me”. I asked for clarification on who had the gun, and she stated she had the gun. I asked Mrs SMITH if her husband had ever had the gun and she stated no. She also stated that he never pointed the gun at her.
I asked Mrs SMITH who the gun belonged to and she stated it was her gun. I asked her where she kept the gun, and she stated she kept it in her nightstand next to the bed. I asked Mrs SMITH who went and got the gun, and she stated that she “must’ve went and got it”. I asked her if she got the gun before, or after her ear had been bitten off, and she stated it was before. I asked Mrs. SMITH why she felt she needed to go get her gun, and she stated because Mr SMITH was beating her. I did observe Mrs. SMITH’s arms were covered with bruises. I then asked Mrs. SMITH when her ear was bitten, and she stated it was bitten during the tussle between the two for the gun. Mrs. SMITH stated that Mr. SMITH was successful at getting the gun from her during the fight. Mrs. SMITH described the two were both in the floor on their knees when her ear was bitten, and that once Mr. SMITH got the gun, it was over.
During the investigation of the incident, I was not able to determine a time line of the events both parties claimed happened. Mr. SMITH stated that he was defending himself from possibly being shot by Mrs. SMITH when the physical altercation took place, and claimed the resulting injuries to Mrs. SMITH were in self defense of himself. Whereas Mrs SMITH admitted to getting the gun before her ear was bitten, but stated she retrieved the gun due to Mr. SMITH beating her and telling her he was going to kill her.
The facts that were obviously clear is that both parties had injuries indicating that both had been in a physical altercation with one another, and the top portion of Mrs. SMITH’s ear had been bitten off. Both parties were highly intoxicated during the time of the incident. Both parties had bite marks which led me to believe that the biting did occur with the firearm present and the parties were fighting out of desperation. What was not clear is if the firearm was retrieved by Mrs. SMITH in self defense from her husband assaulting her before the struggle for the firearm began.
Due to the facts and circumstances of the incident, and the extent of the violence that took place, Mr. Smith was charged with aggravated battery, and a warrant of the charge of aggravated assault was issued for Mrs. SMITH.
[End of Narrative]
The information below reflects all details available at the time of publication and was obtained directly from the official court database accessible to the public. Court records are subject to change at any time at the court’s discretion. The Georgia Gazette is not responsible for errors, omissions, or discrepancies within the docket. No information provided should be construed as legal advice or opinion. All individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
Case History:
7/11/25
PROPERTY BOND
What this means: A property bond in the amount of $15,000 was set as a condition of release. This allowed the defendant to secure release by pledging approved property rather than posting cash, subject to compliance with all court-ordered conditions.
7/15/25
WAIVER OF ARRAIGNMENT, PLEA OF NOT GUILTY, AND NOTICE OF APPEARANCE
What this means: The defendant waived formal arraignment and entered a plea of not guilty to the charges. Counsel Luke Martin also filed a notice of appearance on behalf of the defendant, formally advising the court and the prosecution of legal representation.
7/15/25
MOTION TO SUPPRESS (PRELIMINARY)
What this means: A preliminary motion to suppress was filed, asserting that certain evidence may have been obtained in violation of the defendant’s legal or constitutional rights. The motion requests that such evidence be excluded from use at trial.
7/15/25
DEMAND FOR DISCOVERY AND EXCULPATORY MATERIAL; OPT-IN TO RECIPROCAL DISCOVERY
What this means: The defense asked the prosecution to share all evidence in the case, including anything that could help the defendant. The defense also agreed to share required information in return, as the law requires.
7/22/25
NOTICE OF ARRAIGNMENT
What this means: The court issued a notice setting or acknowledging the arraignment proceedings. This notice served to inform the parties of the procedural status of the case following the waiver and plea filing.
8/27/25
NOTICE OF COMPLIANCE WITH APPLICABLE DISCOVERY STATUTE
What this means: The prosecution filed a notice indicating compliance with the governing discovery statutes. This filing represents that required discovery materials had been disclosed to the defense.
10/2/25
NOTICE OF TRIAL
What this means: The court issued a notice scheduling the case for trial on November 5, 2025, at 9:00 a.m. This established the matter on the trial calendar and notified all parties of the trial date.
10/6/25
WITNESS SUBPOENA
What this means: A witness subpoena was issued to compel the appearance of a witness at trial or related proceedings. This ensured the witness’s legal obligation to testify or provide evidence.
11/5/25
NOLLE PROSEQUI ORDER
What this means: On the scheduled trial date, the court entered an order of nolle prosequi, formally dismissing the charges. Because the order is restricted, access to the record or details of the dismissal may be limited under applicable law.