Wood County Constable Federally Indicted For Excessive Force

SHERMAN, Texas – A federal grand jury has indicted an East Texas law enforcement official with federal violations in the Eastern District of Texas.

Kelly Jason Smith, 46, was named in the indictment returned by a federal grand jury on Nov. 10 in Sherman, charging him with deprivation of rights under color of law.

According to the indictment, on July 25, Smith, the Wood County Precinct 2 Constable, directed his police dog to bite a suspect who did not pose a threat that warranted the use of the police dog. These actions resulted in unnecessary bodily injury to the suspect.
If convicted, Smith faces up to ten years in federal prison.

Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division, U.S. Attorney Brit Featherston for the Eastern District of Texas, and FBI Acting Special Agent in Charge James J. Dwyer made the announcement.

The FBI Dallas Field Office is investigating the case, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Tracey Batson is prosecuting the case for the Eastern District of Texas.