Kentucky State Police trooper charged with assaulting his girlfriend, records show
A Kentucky State Police trooper and his girlfriend have both been charged with assault after allegedly getting into a fight in Central Kentucky, according to court records.
Trooper Chris Johnson was arrested early Tuesday in Georgetown after he and his girlfriend, Stephanie Smith, allegedly got into an altercation inside her apartment, according to court records. Johnson and Smith had visible injuries, according to an arrest citation written by Caleb Conley from the Scott County sheriff’s office.
The altercation is being investigated by Kentucky State Police’s Internal Affairs Branch, trooper Matt Sudduth told the Herald-Leader. Johnson has been suspended while the investigation is ongoing.
The sheriff’s office responded to the scene after being alerted by Kentucky State Police Post 6, which is Johnson’s assigned post. Dispatchers were told Johnson was sitting in his cruiser outside the apartment after the fight, according to court records.
The couple got into an argument over “phone messages,” Conley wrote in the arrest citation. Johnson told law enforcement that he “attempted to restrain” his girlfriend from “committing further acts of violence” by putting his elbow across her front collarbone area below her neck, according to the arrest citation. Both ended up on the floor.
Smith had “significant” scratch marks around the neck area, according to Sgt. Eddie Hart from the Scott County sheriff’s office. She also had additional scratches on her chest.
Johnson, who was off-duty at the time, had a “significant” bite mark on his arm, Hart said. Johnson also told deputies he had been kicked in the groin, according to court records.
Johnson told law enforcement that a small child was in the home at the time. Johnson took the child to his cruiser with him after the fight, according to the arrest citation.
Family members showed up to pick up the child, Hart said.
Johnson and Smith had been drinking alcohol, according to court records. They both declined emergency protective order services at the time of the fight, according to court records.
Johnson was charged with fourth-degree assault involving minor injury, according to court records. Smith faces the same charge.
The commander at state police’s Post 6 was notified of the incident, Hart said.
“The Kentucky State Police operates under a number of core values and principles to remain a professional law enforcement agency in service to the citizens of the commonwealth,” Sudduth said.
