Former UT Basketball Star Smith Facing Assault Charge In Chattanooga

Wednesday, August 19, 2009

Former University of Tennessee basketball star JaJuan Smith is facing an assault charge in Chattanooga.

Smith, 23, was brought to the Hamilton County Jail from the Knox County Jail over the weekend after it was found that he had an outstanding warrant against him.

He posted a $500 bond and was released.

Smith, who said on the complaint that he is with the Dallas Mavericks, is due to appear in General Sessions Court on Sept. 15 at 8:30 a.m.

In the incident on June 10, police said Smith became involved in a heated argument with two females in the parking lot of the Fox and Hound Pub and Grille at Hamilton Place as the two women were leaving the pub.

The complaint says Smith "became angry and enraged" when Tiffany Goins refused to give him her phone number.

It says Smith had made several attempts to gain the attention of Ms. Goins and get her phone number earlier in the night.

The complaint says he "turned his frustration and anger" toward Krystal Bertrand "and accused her of provoking Ms. Goins into not providing her telephone number to him, since he had dated one of her friends in the past."

Police said Smith "threatened that he was going to physically assault the victim and became very aggressive and violent towards her. Defendant continued to intimidate and curse at the victim for several minutes. He then swung his elbow at her in an upward movement and struck the victim underneath her chin.

"Defendant continued to taunt the victim until an unknown male in the parking lot stepped in and pulled the defendant away from the victim."

The complaint says Smith lives in Chattanooga.


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