A federal grand jury has indicted U.S. Capitol Police Officer Thomas Smith on accusations of violating a man’s civil rights and obstructing justice. Smith, 44, is scheduled to be arraigned in the District of Columbia on these counts within the next week.
According to the indictment, on June 20, 2020, Smith drove his police vehicle recklessly and dangerously, and was deliberately oblivious to the risk of injury he produced, resulting in Smith colliding with and injuring the victim.
Smith then purposefully drove away from the scene of the accident without rendering aid, notifying medical authorities, or taking any other reasonable efforts to assist the victim. Smith altered U.S. Capitol Police documents after the crash to cover up his wrongdoing.
The statement was made by Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division, US Attorney Matthew Graves for the District of Columbia, and Assistant Director in Charge Steven M. D’Antuono of the FBI Washington Field Office.
The FBI Washington Field Office is investigating the case, which is being prosecuted by Trial Attorney Sanjay Patel of the Civil Rights Division and Assistant U.S. Attorney Kendra Briggs. The U.S. Capitol Police and the Metropolitan Police Department assisted in the investigation.
The indictment contains only allegations, and the accused are deemed innocent unless and until proven guilty.