Name:
Smith, Dennis Howard
Date of Booking:
09/11/2023
Reason(s) For Booking:
Obstruction of Officers-(M)
Safety Belts; Child Passenger Restraining System
Safety Belts; Child Passenger Restraining System
Safety Belts; Child Passenger Restraining System
Safety Belts; Child Passenger Restraining System
Headlights
License to be Carried and Exhibited on Demand
Reckless Conduct
Reckless Conduct
Reckless Conduct
Reckless Conduct
Reckless Conduct
Fleeing/ Attempt to Elude.
Hold for Sumter County Warrant
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.]
On Wednesday, August 16, 2023, at approximately 2151, I conducted a traffic stop on Houston Lake Rd and Wrasling Way.
I observed a dark colored sedan driving without lights on. I advised dispatch I would be stopping the vehicle that displayed a drive out tag [REDACTED BY AGENCY]. The vehicle was a gray, 2003 Honda Accord, VIN [REDACTED]. I exited my patrol vehicle and made contact at the passenger side of the vehicle. When approaching the vehicle, I noticed there were 4 juveniles in the back seat all unrestrained. I asked the driver for his license and he stated he left his wallet at home. The driver was later identified as Dennis Smith (B/M, DOB [REDACTED BY AGENCY]/1994).
I asked the Smith to step out of the vehicle and walk to my car. Smith put the vehicle in drive and left the scene. Deputy Mixon and myself pursued the vehicle into a residential area. Smith made a left-hand turn onto Rigdale Pl and then a right-hand turn onto Duxbury Ct. The driver got to the end of Duxbury Ct and drove through [100 BLOCK] Duxbury Ct front yard to avoid being stopped by deputies. Smith entered back into the roadway and turned right onto Rigdale Pl and drove through [100 BLOCK] Rigdale Pl front yard. Smith entered back onto Rigdale Pl and fled back to Wrasling Way. Cpl. Heberlig terminated the pursuit of Smith due to children being in the vehicle. I turned my lights and sirens off and stopped following the vehicle.
I was able to verify the front passenger in the vehicle was the registered owner of the vehicle. I attempted contact with [WITNESS #1] (B/F, DOB [REDACTED BY AGENCY]/1993) and was unsuccessful. Dispatch later advised me I had a call from [WITNESS #1] in reference to the pursuit from earlier. I was able to make contact with [WITNESS #1] by phone. [WITNESS #1] was able to identified Dennis Smith as the driver of the vehicle. I asked [WITNESS #1] how she knew Smith and she stated he was the father of her children. I asked [WITNESS #1] why Smith ran and she stated probably because he had a warrant. I advised [WITNESS #1] how unsafe it was to have all four of her children unrestrained and she stated she knew.
I asked [WITNESS #1] how old her children were and she stated [REDACTED BY AGENCY] (B/F, DOB [REDACTED BY AGENCY]/2012), [REDACTED BY AGENCY] (B/F, DOB [REDACTED BY AGENCY]/2014), [REDACTED BY AGENCY] (B/F, DOB [REDACTED BY AGENCY]/2019) and [REDACTED BY AGENCY] (B/F, DOB [REDACTED BY AGENCY]/2022). I asked [WITNESS #1] where Smith was and she stated she was not sure. [WITNESS #1] stated she got scared and told Smith she wanted to get out of the vehicle. [WITNESS #1] stated Smith stopped the vehicle on Hwy 41 and put her and all the kids out. [WITNESS #1] stated she had someone come and pick her up and called Smith and asked him to bring her car back. [WITNESS #1] stated he told her he left the vehicle at Crestview apartments and she went and picked it up. I made contact with [WITNESS #1] at [100 BLOCK] Belmore Drive to get a written statement.
I will secure Warrants for Smith.
[End of Narrative]