Fort Wayne– On Thursday, a battery investigation by officers from the Indiana State Police resulted in a guilty plea by former Fort Wayne Police Officer Charles Smith, 28, Fort Wayne, IN. Smith appeared in Allen Superior Court where he pled guilty to a misdemeanor count of battery.

In March 2019, the Indiana State Police started a criminal investigation into an alleged battery, committed by Smith, on a driving while impaired suspect (DUI). The investigation was requested by the Ft Wayne Police Department and the Allen County Prosecutor’s Office.

The investigation revealed that on March 23, 2019, Smith was conducting a DUI investigation on an adult male. As the investigation progressed, the male was taken to the Allen County Jail for a certified breath test. The male allegedly refused the test, causing Smith to apply for, and be granted, a search warrant to draw the male’s blood. The male then purportedly refused to have his blood drawn. Smith went to place the male in handcuffs, when the male pulled away. Smith then punched the male, three times, causing a visible cut and swelling to the man’s forehead.

Smith has resigned from the Fort Wayne Police Department.