Findlay man gets year in prison over police assault

3/17/2006

BOWLING GREEN - A Findlay man who was shot by Fostoria police was sentenced yesterday to a year in prison after he pleaded guilty to assaulting a police officer and carrying a concealed weapon.

Kenneth Smith, 28, was fined $250 and sentenced by Wood County Common Pleas Judge Robert Pollex to one year for each of two counts of assault on a peace officer and for the weapons charge. He will serve the sentences concurrently.

On Oct. 2, Officers Jeff Huffman and Stan Sayre approached Smith's car in the parking lot of the Pharm drugstore on North Countyline Street because Smith was wanted on an arrest warrant.

As Smith tried to drive away with an officer partly inside the car, the officer fired multiple shots. The officers have been cleared of any misconduct.

Smith, who is being held in the Wood County Justice Center, could have been sentenced to up to 18 months for each charge. The state asked for one year total.

A fourth charge, of having weapons while under disability, was dismissed.