FORT WAYNE, Ind. (WOWO) – A Fort Wayne police officer has pleaded guilty to battery.
Charles Smith, 28, pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor count of battery in Allen Superior Court Wednesday following an investigation led by officers from the Indiana State Police.
In March, the Indiana State Police started a criminal investigation into an alleged battery, committed by Smith, on an impaired suspect.
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The investigation revealed that on March 23, 2019, Smith conducted a DUI investigation on a man who refused to take a breath test. After the man allegedly refused the test, Smith applied for, and was granted, a search warrant to draw the man’s blood. The man also refused to have his blood drawn.
Smith then placed the man in handcuffs, punched him three times, and caused a visible cut and swelling to the man’s forehead.
Smith has resigned from the Fort Wayne Police Department.
