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Man Charged Last Month In Wheelchair Rampage Arrested Again
April 15, 2012
The Century man that allegedly went on a wheelchair rampage in a convenience store last month is back behind bars.
Curtis Edward Smith, age 55 of the 3000 block of Highway 168, was due to appear in court Thursday on two counts of aggravated battery and criminal mischief property damage. But according to court records, he was a no show before Judge Jan Shackelford.
A failure to appear warrant was issued for his arrest Friday, and he was booked into the Escambia County Jail early Saturday morning with bond set at $1,100. He is awaiting another hearing on April 20.
Smith was charged after an incident just before sunrise March 19 at the Bindu Food Mart on Gulf Beach Highway.
Smith allegedly approached the clerk and demanded to speak to the manager, who was not in the store at the time. The clerk told deputies that Smith then began yelling and ripping his shirt, claiming he had been attacked. Smith began to chase the clerk around the store in motorized wheelchair, hitting her once on the shin, and threw potato chip racks at her and around the store, according to an Escambia County Sheriff’s Office arrest report.
The clerk said Smith then began ramming his wheelchair into the store’s door, shattering the glass. Another witness corroborated the clerk’s story and also claimed the Smith called him racial obscenities and hit him with the wheelchair.
When deputies arrived, Smith was still inside the store, yelling, “Call the [obscenity] police and take me to jail”, the arrest report states. As the deputy tried to calm Smith, he attempted to roll toward the deputy, demanding that the officer purchase him a drink and some food. The deputy ordered Smith to turn off the wheelchair, but he began to roll around the store.
Smith was later stopped and transported to West Florida Hospital to be treated for injuries to his feet caused by shattering the glass door of the store.
Comments
8 Responses to “Man Charged Last Month In Wheelchair Rampage Arrested Again”
This is sooo sad. It is obvious this man has a mental illness. In reference to: “This is an unfortunate example of a person with mental illness being treated as a criminal. We have too few mental health treatment facilities and too many jailbeds. Mental health experts estimate more than 60 percent of people in jails and prisons are actually mentally ill, but there is little or no mental health care on the outside.” I totally agree with you. It would probably be cheaper to treat someone for a mental illness than to house them as an inmate of ANY facility. At least on the streets, he can take care of himself somewhat, rather than us tax payers paying to feed, house, and clothe him. It cost us taxpayers 20,000.00 a year to house in inmate in Florida. I work for the state of Florida and I don’t even make that much. WOOOOOOWWWWWW. Now I have learned something I didn’t know. No wonder I have never had a raise in over 3 years. SAD! Oh well, back to the subject. Hopefully the judge will have sympathy for this man and get him some help.
This is a tragedy; he’s obviously going through some kind of breakdown & after working his whole life while being confined to a wheelchair he should get some help rather than being thrown into jail. Where are all his friends that claim to care so much for him? I know he has dozens of cousins out there with the means to help him.
This is an unfortunate example of a person with mental illness being treated as a criminal. We have too few mental health treatment facilities and too many jailbeds. Mental health experts estimate more than 60 percent of people in jails and prisons are actually mentally ill, but there is little or no mental health care on the outside.
How very sad to see Little Curt in this condition and facing problems that may very well be brought on by the illness that he has mastered all of his life…he has never let it slow him down..he has worked harder and longer and did it very successfully…I have seen many people just give up and give in to problems with their health but Little Curt managed his life with courage and grace….always the gentleman he was reared to be by his loving and caring parents.. I pray this bad time in his life will end and he will be able and strong to find his way to his days filled with nothing but peace and joy….please be positive and remember not to judge …it has been said….but for the grace of God— Go I. our love and prayers to Curt and his family.
sad, did some work at this mans house several years back. nice guy. his disability may have something to do with his behavior. who knows. but for the grace of God…………
I hate to here this about Curtis I went to school with him he was a very sweet person I don’t know what’s going on but this is not the Curtis I knew good luck Curtis I hope you get better may god be with you:)) God Bless You!!!!
well well well how many times does it take to put nut in a nut house!!!!
they need to get this salts insence scooby doo what ever it is off the streets it is making people and this is what happens when you take it Wake up people .
Boy you are going to mess around and they are going to put you in the nut house.
And that ain’t being mean, it’ is just the truth.