One of the most serious charges former UCF football player Kevin Smith faced when arrested by UCFPD after a traffic accident back in April has been dropped due to a lack of evidence.
“We did not file charges against Kevin Ryan Smith for Resisting Arrest because evidence was not suitable to move forward with prosecution on that charge,” said State Attorney Spokeswoman Angela Stark.
UCF police officer James Strawn had his body camera turned on but “forgot” to record when he said Smith resisted his order to sign a criminal traffic citation, according to the arrest affidavit. UCFPD was notified and did not oppose the state’s action.
“The state attorney’s office elected to drop one charge and pursue another in order to resolve the case. UCFPD was consulted, and we did not oppose the resolution,” said UCFPD Spokeswoman Courtney Gilmartin.
Smith was also arrested for driving on a suspended license, leaving the scene without providing information, and failure to sign a court mandatory citation. Those charges remain pending and Smith pleaded not guilty, according to court records.
Kevin Smith played five seasons in the NFL with the Detroit Lions. Smith then became a member of the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, a Canadian Football League team, for all of five days. The Blue Bombers released the former Detroit Lions star after pulling a hamstring on the first Sunday of training camp, according to the Winnipeg Free Press.
Smith returned to UCF in August in efforts to finish his degree after leaving UCF his junior year to pursue a career in the NFL, according to the Orlando Sentinel.
