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Hernando Today

Sheriff's Sergeant Placed On Restricted Duty

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By KYLE MARTIN Hernando Today

The Tampa Tribune

Published: July 23, 2008

BROOKSVILLE - A sheriff's sergeant is on restricted duty pending the outcome of an internal investigation into accusations he slapped his ex-girlfriend.

Until that issue is resolved, Donald Smith cannot perform law enforcement duties.

In a letter dated July 9, the state attorney's office declined to file charges against Smith because of a "lack of physical evidence, inconsistent statements ... and lack of other eyewitnesses ..."

The accusations stem from the night of May 31 into the morning of June 1, when Kelly Prus told a deputy that Smith pulled some hair out of her head during an argument and twice slapped her in the face with the back of his hand.

The alleged battery occurred while the two were driving away from a bar and, when Smith pulled over in a pharmacy parking lot, an on-duty deputy pulled up behind them. That deputy noticed what looked like blood on Prus' clothes, but she assured him that was from a fight with another woman and that she was fine, a report states.

The couple was allowed to leave, but the deputy was troubled and called his supervisor. Smith was pulled over again so the supervisor could speak with him; again Prus told the deputies she was OK.

It wasn't until June 18 that Prus made the allegations. At that time, she was under investigation for allegedly trespassing on Smith's property. The state attorney's office later declined to press charges.

Reporter Kyle Martin can be reached at 352-544-5271 or kmartin@hernandotoday.com.

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