52-year-old Edward Smedley was charged with domestic assault and resisting arrest after striking his girlfriend, Andrea Smith, in her face and police used pepper spray to get him into a patrol car.
On December 2nd, Clarksville Police Officer Logan Oakley responded to domestic violence with simple assault at 552 Jacquie Drive. When Officer Oakley arrived he made contact with Edward Smedley, he noticed that Smedley had an odor of alcohol from his person, spoke with slurred speech, and was unsteady on his feet. Smedley stated that he called because he wanted his girlfriend, Andrea Smith, to leave his residence. Smedly also stated that he had a “scuffle” with his girlfriend. Smedley explained that the “scuffle” was a loud verbal argument combined with some pushing that was started over discussing the couple’s finances. Smedley said that he could not remember who made physical contact first, and Officer Oakley noticed that Smedley had a small laceration on his right pinky finger with blood. Officer Oakley made contact with Smith, and she said that when Smedley came home he appeared to be under the influence. She also stated that when she let him into the residence he started arguing with her about their finances.
She also stated that Smedley aggressively approached her with his fist raised, and stated that she raised her arm to prevent him from hitting her and attempted to go to the kitchen. She said that Smedley followed and began to strike her in the face, and she said that she picked up a pole-like object and attempted to keep him off of her. She further stated that Smedley tried to wrestle the object away from her while continuing to strike her. She finally stated that she was able to retreat to her bedroom and locked the door until officers arrived. Officer Oakley was able to observe scratches and redness to the right side of Smith’s face and saw a minor laceration with fresh blood on her right knee. Officer Oakley determined Smedley to be the primary aggressor and was taken into custody, but during a search of Smedley, he was yelling and pulling his body away from Officer Oakley. It was further reported that when Officer Oakley tried to put Smedley into the patrol car he refused and was pushing his body weight into Officer Oakley. Other officers tried to help put Smedley in the patrol car but he kept resisting. Officer Oakley told Smedley that if he would not cooperate that he would spray him. Smedley still resisted and was in turn sprayed, and then Smedley sat in the patrol car and was transported to the Montgomery County Jail.
Edward Smedley was charged with domestic assault and resisting arrest. He was found guilty of domestic assault and his resisting arrest charge was dismissed. He has been sentenced to 11 months and 29 days in jail and is currently released on supervised probation.
