Gans Woman Pleads Not Guilty to Assault on Officer

A Gans woman pleaded not guilty Sept. 30 to a felony charge of assault and battery on a police officer, court records reveal.

Rebecca A. Smith, 36, was also charged with malicious injury to property (under $1,000), a misdemeanor. Smith’s felony count is punishable by a fine of up to $500, up to five years in prison or both, while the misdemeanor charge carries a penalty of a $500 fine, imprisonment in the county jail for up to a year or both. Smith was released on $5,000 bond and her next court appearance is scheduled for 9 a.m. Oct. 21.

According to a police report, a Roland police officer was on patrol Sept. 27 when she was dispatched to residence in reference to a female sitting on the porch, laughing loudly and talking to herself. The owner of the home reported that the woman did not live there and did not know who she was.

Earlier, another officer reported that he had dealt with a female, identified as Smith, who was walking around naked outside the Walnut Inn. At that time, officers called Smith’s parents and they drove from Gans to bring her some clothes. Her parents reportedly tried to get her to come home with them, but Smith refused. 

When the Roland officer arrived at the home in question, she made contact with the woman. When asked why she was sitting on somebody else’s front porch, Smith said she just wanted a place to sit down. Smith was not wearing shoes, so the officer asked if she could call her parents to come get her. Smith agreed to make the call.

Once they arrived at the Roland Police Department, the officer let Smith out of the back seat of her patrol car, but Smith reportedly walked around to the driver’s side of the patrol unit and stepped forward as if she was going to sit down in the driver’s seat. The officer placed her knee against the door and told Smith to move back, but she refused. The officer then called for assistance. Smith then allegedly used her hands and force to open the door. The force of Smith pulling the door open caused the officer to take a step back and the door hit her camera and knocked it off.

The officer was then able to step in between Smith and the patrol unit’s door, but Smith grabbed the officer with both hands and pushed her back into the car. The officer was able to push Smith away from her and the driver’s side door so she couldn’t get inside the patrol unit.

Smith was eventually handcuffed and she was booked into the Roland Jail.

 Laura Brown, KXMX Staff Writer

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