Deericka Smith

Name:
Smith, Deericka Shalondra

Date of Booking:
03/20/2025

Reason(s) For Booking:
Disruption Public Schools

Disorderly conduct

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 the date of 1/15/25, reporting deputy (R/D) Prough #1375 with the Paulding County Sheriff’s Office Juvenile Division, while working my assigned duties at Herschel Jones Middle School (HJMS), heard raised voices outside of my office door and immediately responded to determine the nature of the incident.

R/D observed [VICTIM #1], Principal, and [WITNESS #1], Assistant Principal at HJMS attempting to de-escalate School Safety Security Guard De’Erica Smith and have her exit the school building. Smith was shouting and cursing at [VICTIM #1], and [VICTIM #1] requested that R/D escort Smith off of the school property. R/D activated my body-worn camera while Smith was still yelling, and initially refused to leave. R/D was able to calm Smith enough to get her out of the building. Smith continued to yell about how [VICTIM #1] was a poor administrator and how badly the school was run, including various profanity.

R/D continued to walk her toward her vehicle in the staff parking lot, while she made a phone call and began yelling at the other person about telling [VICTIM #1] about their private conversation. Smith hung up the phone shortly thereafter, and we continued walking toward the parking lot. About this time, class was dismissed, and students began exiting the gymnasium. Smith was still loud and using profanity, and R/D directed her to stop, as there were children around and that level of behavior was highly inappropriate. Smith quieted, and stated she was going to sit on the hood of her car until R/D could get her bag and keys from the ISS room.

At this time, school staff called over the radio requesting an officer in the gym for a student disturbance. Smith could likely hear R/D’s radio and the request for an officer, as we were still close to each other. R/D advised her that R/D had to handle what was possibly a fight, and that R/D would be back. Multiple administrators also responded to the disturbance, and one student was irate and had gone into the school, possibly to fight another student. R/D followed administrators and the student until they contacted him. When they advised R/D they had the situation under control, R/D went to the ISS room and recovered Smith’s bag.

R/D walked the belongings outside and observed School Safety Officers Michael Ruple and Eric Pace speaking calmly with Smith. R/D and School Safety were able to de-escalate Smith, and R/D advised her to decompress and calm down off-campus before she responded to the Board of Education building to write a statement, as School Safety had instructed her to do. [WITNESS #2], a teacher at the school, came out and walked Smith to her vehicle, helping to further calm her down. Smith left shortly thereafter without further incident.

R/D was notified later that the incident with Smith had continued after he responded to the possible fight. [VICTIM #1] and other administrators were helping outside with class transition of the large number of students from the gym. [VICTIM #1] advised in her written statement that Smith was close to the school gate, and began yelling and cursing at her. [VICTIM #1] advised in her written statement that she heard someone say “stupid bi*ch” multiple times. She observed Smith was on the sidewalk by the parking lot, and was continuing to call her names. Smith also yelled “I will fu*k you up bi*ch. I will beat your a*s” at [VICTIM #1] while students were still in class transition. [VICTIM #1] advised R/D she did not wish to press charges at this time.

Juveniles [WITNESS #3] and [WITNESS #4] were outside and provided written statements about their observations. [WITNESS #3] stated she had been walking to her class in the 200 hallway, and heard “Miss D” (Smith) cursing at [VICTIM #1], stating “fu*k you bi*ch and other bad stuff.” [WITNESS #3] advised she could still hear Smith yelling after she had walked into class.

[WITNESS #4] also stated he heard Smith yell “fu*k you bi*ch” toward [VICTIM #1] as he was going into class.

Multiple other students advised [WITNESS #1] that they had heard yelling during class change, but did not know what was said.

Administrative assistants [WITNESS #5] and [WITNESS #6] had been in the front office when the incident started. [WITNESS #5] provided a written statement advising that “Ms. D” (Smith) had been called into [VICTIM #1]’s office, and the conversation escalated quickly. When she started yelling, [VICTIM #1] told her to leave her office and “have a good day.” Smith continued to yell at [VICTIM #1] that “her school sucked and she sucked as a black woman principal.” [VICTIM #1] then called for R/D to escort Smith out. [WITNESS #6]’s statement advised “Ms. D” (Smith) went into [VICTIM #1]’s office, and [WITNESS #6] heard the conversation become escalated. She heard Smith get very heated, and [VICTIM #1] asked her to leave. She then called for R/D to escort Smith out.

[WITNESS #1]’s written statement advised Smith had been called into [VICTIM #1]’s office to discuss professionalism and an incident on 1/14/25. They were concerned about Smith spreading false information about a staff member to other staff members. Smith became irate before any of the issues were really addressed, and accused [VICTIM #1] of “plotting against her.” [VICTIM #1] asked Smith to leave the office and school, and to report to the Board, since she was refusing to calm down. Smith refused to leave and [VICTIM #1] requested R/D escort Smith off of school property, while Smith was telling [VICTIM #1] she was a horrible leader as a black woman.

[WITNESS #2] provided a written statement. He advised that he had released his students for class change, and heard Smith yelling outside, but thought she was saying something about checking the gates. [VICTIM #1] then asked him to exit to “witness something.” As he exited, he heard Smith cursing at [VICTIM #1], calling her a “fu*king liar” and that Smith would “beat her a*s.” [VICTIM #1] told Smith to leave the property, and the verbal altercation continued for a “couple of minutes.” [WITNESS #2] then asked [VICTIM #1] to come inside and that she didn’t have to listen to Smith disrespect her. [WITNESS #2] observed that [VICTIM #1] was visibly upset, and escorted her inside to make sure she was alright.

Cpl. Plunkett #875 was notified in regard.

Video was requested of the incident personally to Eric Pace, who advised School Safety would have a copy available.

Statements were collected and submitted to be attached to the report.

Case status open/active.

[End of Narrative]