The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation presented its case to the Union County grand jury this week which resulted in a Maynardville man being indicted for assaulting a law enforcement officer on Feb. 3.
Mark Stephen Smith, 53, was indicted on one count of aggravated assault and one count of domestic assault.
On Feb. 3, Maynardville Police Sergeant Donnie Shipley was dispatched to 169 Somerset Way to investigate a domestic dispute. After Sergeant Shipley's arrival at the home, he knocked on the door and a male subject from inside asked who it was and Sergeant Shipley announced "Police Department". Sergeant Shipley then heard someone inside the residence run towards the rear of the residence and he then heard three gunshots. When Officer Shipley arrived at the rear of the residence, he saw Smith on the back deck of the house; Smith then fired the gun two more times. Sergeant Shipley retreated to cover and approached the rear of the residence with the additional backup of Officer Johnson. Sergeant Shipley saw that Smith was still on the rear deck holding a weapon and he gave verbal commands for Smith to drop the weapon and again identified himself as a police officer. Smith refused to drop the weapon and began pointing the gun in the direction of Sergeant Shipley. Sergeant Shipley shot Smith striking him in the shoulder. Smith was transported to Tenova Hospital in Knoxville for treatment. Smith was arrested today and is currently incarcerated in the Union county Jail.
The 8th Judicial District Attorney General Lori Phillips-Jones requested TBI to investigate the incident.