A postconviction relief request was filed last week in District Court for Carroll County questioning the credibility of former Carroll Police officer, Jacob Smith. In a petition submitted Aug. 7, 22-year-old Natasha Ann Daniel, of Carroll, is seeking a review of four prior convictions. In November of 2015, Smith conducted a traffic stop on Daniel’s car, claiming the vehicle was speeding. The petition states Daniel denies she was speeding and Smith performed a warrantless search that located marijuana in her car. In December of 2016, Smith stopped Daniel a separate time for allegedly driving erratically, resulting in her arrest for operating while intoxicated and driving while revoked. According to court records, Daniel plead guilty in 2016 to first-offense possession of marijuana and operating while intoxicated and in 2017 to driving while revoked and a contempt of court charge resulting from the OWI. Combined, Daniel was required to serve six days in the Carroll County jail and pay nearly $3,500 in fines and surcharges plus attorney fees and court costs. She claims in the petition she plead guilty to the charges based on her attorney’s advice that the court would consider Smith credible. Through discovery in a dismissed libel lawsuit against the Daily Times Herald, evidence surfaced that showed Smith’s credibility was an issue in past arrests, and that information was not provided to the defendant to present to the judge. Daniel is requesting a vacation of her sentences and the ability to file a motion to suppress evidence in all cases. A hearing to consider the request is scheduled for Thursday, Sept. 27 at the Carroll County Courthouse.
