04 Aug Former Richmond Police Officer Faces Felony Charge for Allegedly Striking Man With Taser

(Image courtesy of Contra Costa County)

By Olivia Wynkoop
Bay City News Foundation

A former Richmond Police Department officer faces a felony charge for allegedly assaulting a man with a taser, the Contra Costa District Attorney’s Office announced Wednesday.

On April 9 at 1 a.m., former officer Eric Smith Jr. was attempting to arrest a man in Richmond for a previous car chase incident, according to the filing. After failed attempts to stun the man with a taser, Smith physically hit him with the device enough times to cause “great bodily injury to the victim,” according to the district attorney.

The Richmond Police Department terminated Smith from the force on Aug. 3, and filed the case to the district attorney.
Smith also faces enhancements for causing great bodily harm and for the use of a dangerous weapon.

The Superior Court of California will set his arraignment date.

Copyright © 2022 Bay City News, Inc. All rights reserved. Republication, rebroadcast or redistribution without the express written consent of Bay City News, Inc. is prohibited. Bay City News is a 24/7 news service covering the greater Bay Area.