Thread: Sen. Virgil Smith found naked with woman by ex-wife prior to shooting

Report: Detroit Sen. Virgil Smith found naked with woman by ex-wife prior to shooting

By Gus Burns | fburns@mlive.com
on May 11, 2015 at 3:00 PM, updated May 11, 2015 at 5:39 PM

DETROIT, MI -- State. Sen. Virgil Smith was naked when he fought with his ex-wife and shot at her car, according to police reports obtained by George Hunter of the Detroit News.

According to the Detroit News, Smith called what he did "the most stupid thing in his life." He told investigators his ex-wife began pounding on his door at 1 a.m. Sunday, and when he opened it while naked, she rushed past and attempted to attack a girlfriend in Smith's bed.

After some wrestling that resulted in a TV falling over, Smith forced his ex-wife from the home and grabbed a rifle that he fired multiple times into his ex-wife's Mercedez Benz, according to the Detroit News.

The Detroit News reports, based on the statement made to police by Smith's ex-wife, Smith smashed her face into the carpet and punched her up to five times prior to the shooting that led her into an alley and later to a neighbor's home where she called 911.

Detroit Police Media Relations Director June West said Smith left the house after the shooting but later cooperated with investigators and was arrested Sunday.

Police seized a rifle from the home on the 18000 block of Wexford after serving a search warrant.

Police responded to a call of a domestic disturbance at Smith's home about 1 a.m. Sunday.

Investigators are seeking charges for assault with a dangerous weapon and malicious destruction of property, West said. The Wayne County Prosecutor's Office on Monday afternoon asked police for more information prior to making a charging decision.

Smith served three years in the House of Representatives before being elected to the Senate in 2010. He was re-elected to the Senate in 2014 and represents the Fourth District, which includes portions of Allen Park, Detroit, Lincoln Park and Southgate.

Michigan Senate Majority Leader Arlan Meekhof is monitoring the situation but is not currently planning any attempts to punish or expel Smith, according to a spokeswoman.
"At this point, the majority leader believes this is an issue for the police to handle and law enforcement to handle," Amber McCann said. "He doesn't want to pursue any options until the full scope of the incident is apparent."

Senate rules allow Michigan lawmakers to expel a member with a two-thirds supermajority vote, but such a move is rare.

Former Sen. David Jaye, a Macomb County Republican, was expelled in 2001.

Smith has received citations for impaired driving and operating while intoxicated in 2004, for which his license was revoked and reinstated to a restricted status in 2007, according to a statement issued by Secretary of State spokesman Fred Woodhams.

He's received four speeding tickets since his license reinstatement and received a minor in possession of alcohol citation while in East Lansing in 2000, according to Secretary of State records.

Gov. Rick Snyder and Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan refused to comment on the shooting incident during conversations with media during a development announcement at the former Southwestern High School in Detroit Monday.

"No," said Snyder when asked for comment. "That's in the criminal justice system, and that will go through the normal process, due process."

Smith recently partnered with Duggan to release legislation to reduce auto insurance premiums for Detroit residents by lowering the minimum insurance requirements.

"We're going to have to wait and see what Kym Worthy does, so we'll leave that to the prosecutor," said Duggan. " ... I'm going to leave the whole thing to the prosecutor.

"When I was prosecutor, I didn't appreciate other officials commenting on my charging decisions, and I'm going to give her the same courtesy and not comment, and she'll do whatever's appropriate."

Michigan is among a minority of states with a full-time Legislature. Senators begin at a starting annual pay of about $71,000.

Smith and his chief of staff have not responded to MLive requests for comment.

http://www.mlive.com/news/detroit/in...rgil_smit.html