A Hephzibah teen wrestled a deputy’s taser away from him and used it against the officer and a sergeant, authorities said. It is the second such incident in eight days.
Jaden Smith, 19, of Hephzibah, was involved in a rollover accident on Wednesday evening on Windsor Spring Road. He ran away from the accident when deputies arrived and was chased, according to authorities.
Deputy Leslie Gaiter tasered the suspect by drive-stunning him. He took the teen to the ground, but Smith wrestled the weapon away from the male deputy during a struggle. He then tasered Deputy Gaiter with it, authorities said.
Sgt. Cory Carlyle came over to assist and got drive-stunned by Smith as well. After a brief struggle, Smith was taken into custody.
Smith is charged with two counts of felony obstruction, taking of officers weapon, reckless driving, leaving the scene of an accident and driving while license suspended. There were no report of significant injuries.
This week’s taser incident came just eight days after Deputy Nicholas Boyd was assaulted and tasered with his own weapon during a confrontation with 18-year-old Antwon Tennant Jr. at Magnolia Court Apartments.
In that May 14 case, Boyd chased Tennant to another building, where a struggle ensued. Tennant resisted arrest, attempted to grab Boyd’s gun, and eventually used the deputy’s taser against him.
Deputy Raneshia Price arrived, and after a brief struggle, the officers managed to subdue and handcuff Tennant. Both officers sustained injuries, while Tennant required medical attention. Tennant was charged with multiple offenses, including aggravated assault on a police officer and taking an officer’s weapon.
