Bench trial for man who attacked chief Gibson

by Peter Jakey-Managing Editor

A bench trial in front of Circuit Judge Scott Pavlich is scheduled for Oct. 21 for Keith Smith, 23, of Petoskey. He is accused of choking former Onaway police chief Jim Gibson in downtown Onaway.

Smith has undergone two forensic exams to determine if he was insane at the time of the incident.

He was evaluated by psychologists from the Forensic Center of Grayling and was determined to not be insane at the time of the incident.

Pavlich granted a motion to allow the defense a second exam from an independent psychologist. The results have not been made available and more than likely will be part of the trial later this month.

The incident occurred almost a year ago, Oct. 6 at 1:05 a.m..

Gibson was dispatched to a fight in progress at the Northland Bar; however, while he was

driving by the Dairy Queen, Smith jumped in front of his squad car.

When Gibson got out of his vehicle the subject attacked him and started choking him, Gibson told the Outlook after the incident.

According to Gibson, Smith damaged the Onaway police cruiser and went after him a second time and threatened to kill him.

Smith had to be tased by Gibson in order to get the attacker under control. He also damaged the interior of a sheriff’s department vehicle while in transit to the county jail.

Gibson also said Smith was a threat to the public and had gone after other people in the area.

Smith is charged with assault with intent to do great bodily harm, less than murder; resisting and opposing a police officer; and two counts of malicious destruction of police property.