A Greene County Deputy was forced to use his Taser early this morning on a suspect after several verbal warnings to stop and get on the ground were ignored. The situation came to a head at approximately 12:08 a.m. when the Greene County Deputy assisted a Jefferson Police Officer in locating 40-year-old Branden Smith of Jefferson. In the early evening hours of March 16, reports were received that Smith was making harassing and threatening phone calls and suicidal threats. Smith, who was wanted on outstanding arrest warrants for domestic abuse assault, was located and tracked by pinging of his cell phone, and officers intercepted when he arrived back in Jefferson. The vehicle Smith was in was followed to the 100 block of North Cedar Street, where Smith exited the vehicle and began walking toward the residence and refused to cooperate with law officers. The probe was the only part of the Taser making contact with Smith, who continued to ignore commands. The Deputy and Jefferson Police Officers took Smith to the ground and attempted to handcuff him, but the Deputy was forced to deploy a Drive Stun with his Taser to Smith’s upper back to get him into custody. Smith was transported to the Law Enforcement Center where he was charged with Interference with Official Acts and booked into jail on the felony warrants.
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