Big Rapids police officer charged with felony assault
Big Rapids News
May 17, 2016
BIG RAPIDS — A Big Rapids police officer is facing a felony assault charge after a domestic violence altercation over the weekend.
Simone Smith-Politz, 32, of Big Rapids, was arraigned Monday in Mecosta County's 77th District Court on one count of felonious assault with a dangerous weapon and one count of domestic violence.
According to a press release from the Mecosta County Sheriff's Office, Meceola Central Dispatch received a 911 call early Sunday morning from a Green Township residence requesting a police response.
The felonious assault charge alleges Smith-Politz made an assault upon the victim using a knife, but with no intent to commit murder or inflict great bodily harm, according to court documents.
Smith-Politz is employed as a police officer with the Big Rapids Department of Public Safety. As a result of the charges, DPS Director Andrea Nerbonne confirmed Smith-Politz is on unpaid leave from the department.
The felonious assault charge carries a maximum penalty of up to four years in prison, while the domestic violence charge is a 93-day misdemeanor.
Smith-Politz is currently out on bail after posting 10 percent of her $20,000 bond. She has a preliminary examination scheduled for 1:30 p.m. on Tuesday, May 31, in Mecosta County's 77th District Court.
Officer on leave after arrest
Big Rapids DPS police officer charged with felony assault
Pioneer, The (Big Rapids, MI)
May 18, 2016
https://infoweb.newsbank.com/
BIG RAPIDS — A Big Rapids police officer is facing a felony assault charge after a domestic violence altercation over the weekend.
Simone Smith-Politz, 32, of Big Rapids, was arraigned Monday in Mecosta County’s 77th District Court on one count of felonious assault with a dangerous weapon and one count of domestic violence.
According to a press release from the Mecosta County Sheriff’s Office, Meceola Central Dispatch received a 911 call early Sunday morning from a Green Township residence requesting a police response.
The felonious assault charge alleges Smith-Politz made an assault upon the victim using a knife, but with no intent to commit murder or inflict great bodily harm, according to court documents.
Smith-Politz is employed as a police officer with the Big Rapids Department of Public Safety. As a result of the charges, DPS Director Andrea Nerbonne confirmed Smith-Politz is on unpaid leave from the department.
The felonious assault charge carries a maximum penalty of up to four years in prison, while the domestic violence charge is a 93-day misdemeanor.
Smith-Politz currently is out on bail after posting 10 percent of her $20,000 bond. She has a preliminary examination scheduled for 1:30 p.m. on Tuesday, May 31, in Mecosta County’s 77th District Court.
Witnesses testify at hearing for Big Rapids police officer accused of domestic violence
Big Rapid News
July 1, 2016
BIG RAPIDS — The case against a Big Rapids police officer charged with felonious assault will proceed after a judge bound her charge over to circuit court on Friday.
Simone Smith-Politz, 32, of Big Rapids, was arraigned in May in Mecosta County's 77th District Court on one count of felonious assault with a dangerous weapon and one count of domestic violence.
According to the Mecosta County Sheriff's Office, police were called on May 15 to a residence in Green Township for a report of a domestic dispute where Smith-Politz allegedly pulled a knife.
On Friday, the victim was the first witness to take the stand during the case's preliminary examination. Robert Springstead, the Newaygo County Prosecutor, was specially assigned to the case by the Attorney General's office.
The victim testified he and Smith-Politz went out for dinner on the night of the incident, and then went to the bar where they later got into an argument. Once at home, the two were in the garage smoking cigarettes and the argument continued, escalating when Smith-Politz shoved him. At that point, he went into the house and locked the garage door behind him. Smith-Politz ultimately went to the front door and entered the home.
"Was there physical contact as you came through door?" Springstead asked. "Somehow the two of you ended up on the floor?"
"As far as I can recall it was kind of a shoving match, and yes, we ended up on the floor," the victim said. "I went down first and she was on top of me."
After getting out from under Smith-Politz, the victim went to the door and she went to the kitchen. She then pulled out a knife and told him, "Don't come any closer," according to the victim.
Springstead questioned if the victim asked Smith-Politz to put the weapon down. He said, yes. Smith-Politz did not comply with his request, at which point he took out his phone and dialed 911.
Smith-Politz's attorney, Nick Bostic, then questioned the victim, asking about the number of drinks he had throughout the night. The victim admitted to being intoxicated and was mildly obnoxious, interrupting Smith-Politz in conversation, which is what first started the argument.
"And who owns the dwelling?" Bostic asked the victim, referring to the residence Smith-Politz was locked out of.
"Simone," the victim stated, acknowledging he did now have ownership rights of the property.
The victim also said he was still under the influence of alcohol when he filled out a written statement for police regarding what happened that morning.
Mecosta County Sheriff's Office Deputy John Bongard also testified in court Friday.
Bongard stated during the dispatch call the victim said Smith-Politz pulled a knife on him and wouldn't let him leave. When officers arrived on scene, Smith-Politz was sitting in garage by herself. Bongard testified he knew Smith-Politz because of her work as a police officer for the city of Big Rapids.
He then asked questions her questions to find out what had transpired that morning.
Bongard said Smith-Politz told him the victim was holding the door shut and as she went into the house, he fell backward and she fell on top of him. She ended up putting him in a chokehold. He then rolled over and put his forearm in her face and then got up. She went to the kitchen and grabbed the knife.
Smith-Politz showed the officers the knife, which had a blade length of about eight inches. She had been in the kitchen and victim was in other room when she was holding the knife, which Bongard estimated put between 15 to 25 feet between the two.
"Did she indicate her purpose for holding the knife?"
"She said that he told her to put down the knife and she told him to shut the door," Bongard testified. "She wanted him to know how serious she was about keeping the argument private."
The other officer who responded to the scene, Mecosta County Sheriff's Office Deputy Chad Thompson, also testified. The defense did not present any evidence or witnesses at the hearing.
Judge Kimberly Booher heard the case and ruled to bind the felony charge over to Mecosta County's 49th Circuit Court.
At the end of the hearing, Bostic asked the court to lift the no contact order imposed between Smith Politz and the victim as part of a condition of his client's bond. Both Springstead and Bostic noted the victim wanted the order lifted, believing it was an isolated incident. However, Springstead was not in favor of lifting the order.
Booher denied the request for the moment, stating her normal procedure for lifting an order involves an affidavit being filed and a court hearing.
Smith-Politz is currently on unpaid leave from the Big Rapids Department of Public Safety.
Case involving Big Rapids police officer closed, employment status with city unclear
Big Rapid News
October 24, 2016
BIG RAPIDS — A Big Rapids police officer charged with felonious assault has settled her court case, but the outcome is unknown.
Simone Smith-Politz was charged in May with one count of felonious assault with a dangerous weapon and one count of domestic violence. On May 15, Mecosta County Sheriff's Office deputies were called to a residence in Green Township for a report of a domestic dispute where Smith-Politz allegedly pulled a knife.
A court docket for Mecosta County's 49th Circuit Court showed Smith-Politz was set to be sentenced last week. However, the outcome of her sentence is not known because the case file is now non-public.
Newaygo County Prosecutor Robert Springstead who was specially assigned to the case by the Attorney General's office confirmed Smith-Politz entered a plea.
Court rules and statutes require certain types of files be designated as non-public cases. Springstead noted these types of files could include cases plead under what is known as a 7411 deferral for first-time drug offenders, Michigan Domestic Violence Deferral MCL 769.4a for domestic assault charges if the defendant is a first-time offender or cases under the Holmes Youthful Trainee Act.
When Smith-Politz was arrested, she was placed on leave from her job as a police officer with the Big Rapids Department of Public Safety. While waiting for the outcome of her case to be determined, Smith-Politz instead worked for the city of Big Rapids with the Department of Public Works.
Though her case is resolved, Smith-Politz's employment status with the city of Big Rapids is unclear. At press time, city officials could not be reached for comment regarding the situation.
At a preliminary hearing in July, the victim in the case testified he and Smith-Politz went out for dinner on the night of the incident, and then went to the bar where they later got into an argument. Once at home, the two were in the garage smoking cigarettes and the argument continued, escalating when Smith-Politz shoved him. At that point, he went into the house and locked the garage door behind him. Smith-Politz ultimately went to the front door and entered the home. The two ultimately got into a "shoving match" and Smith-Politz later pulled a knife in the argument.
City of Big Rapids and Mecosta County thanks employees for service to community
Big Rapids News
Dec. 15, 2016
BIG RAPIDS — The end of 2016 is in sight and for the city of Big Rapids and Mecosta County as a whole, the close of another year means taking a moment to recognize employees.
Current and retired city employees gathered at the Department of Public Safety's fire bay to congratulate those who were being recognized and celebrate the upcoming holidays.
While City Manager Steve Sobers was unable to make it to the festivities, Mark Gifford, director of the Department of Public Works and the next city manager, started off the event.
Recognized for five years of service with the city were: fire-fighter Daniel Grabill; fire-fighter Nathan Fricke; Stacey Johns, code enforcer with the Department of Neighborhood Services; Department of Parks and Recreation Director Heather Bowman; Mary Loesch, with the Department of Parks and Recreation; Big Rapids Community Library Director Miriam Andrus; and Alan Hatchew, of the Department of Public Works.
Employees who were recognized for 10 years of service were: Jennifer Rosenogle, with Dial-A-Ride; Simone Smith-Politz, with DPW; and police officer Jason Kuiawa. For 15 years of service, Howard Botma, with the library; and Joseph Davidson, of DPW, were acknowledged.
Department of Information Technology Director Tim Moslener, Detective Brian Miller and Robert Halstead, with the maintenance department were congratulated for 20 years of service.
Three plaques were given to Carla Staffen, of the treasurer's office, attorney Eric Williams for 30 years of service and fire-fighter Richard Spedowske for 35 years of service.
Lunch was served and employees and retirees had a chance to win raffle prizes to wrap up the event.
Later in the afternoon and down the road at the Mecosta County Building, county employees filed into room 102 to be recognized for the years they have served the county.
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