Timothy SmithA Hamilton County Sheriff's Office correctional employee has been arrested for an alleged beating in Catoosa County, according to a news release.
Timothy Smith was taken into custody Friday by the Catoosa County Sheriff's Office on Friday on charges of aggravated assault and cruelty to children after a deputy responded to an "ongoing domestic dispute" on the 900 block of Cross Street, an incident report from the Catoosa County Sheriff's Office states.
Deputy Tanner Suits found several people outside of an apartment building, including a victim who was bleeding from several places on their face and side of their head. The victim was unable to talk clearly or provide any personal information due to their injuries, so Suits had them sit down to wait for an ambulance, according to the report.
Smith's wife, Anni, told Suits that her husband had found her and the victim on the porch, where Timothy accused her of cheating on him with the victim. He then began to hit and kick the victim in the face, the report states.
Another deputy was sent to the 300 block of Rosa Street to make contact with Timothy Smith, who said he had seen Anni and the victim passed out on the porch together. He then told the deputy that while he was trying to wake Anni, the victim "jumped up," which he interpreted as an attack. The report says he then struck the victim several times in the face to defend himself.
Suits also spoke with several witnesses, including a 14-year-old juvenile, who said they had witnessed Timothy Smith continuing to kick and stomp the victim in the head after the victim fell to the ground before fleeing the scene, according to the report.
After the charges were announced to Timothy Smith, he said "well, I did it," the report states.
Smith was off duty at the time of his arrest and has been placed on administrative leave with pay as the HCSO Internal Affairs Division and CCSO investigate, the release states.
Anni Smith was described as being "incredibly intoxicated on alcohol and marijuana," and the victim was also reported as smelling of alcohol and marijuana. Timothy Smith's clothing was found to contain spatters of blood.
A small bag of a "green leafy substance with the odor of marijuana" was confiscated from the victim before he was transported into an ambulance.
The HCSO said they began the internal investigation as soon as they were notified of the incident.