Pinellas County Deputy Fired, Arrested

LARGO, FL — The Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office has announced the arrest of one of its own. According to the agency, Deputy Steven Jared Smith, 32, was fired and arrested Wednesday on theft and drug-related charges.

Smith stands accused of selling his service weapon to the Silver Dollar Pawn Shop in New Port Richey last month. Authorities also say he took a bottle of hydrocodone for personal use that had been turned in for destruction at the sheriff’s office’s station in Dunedin.

During a Thursday media conference about the arrest and termination Sheriff Bob Gualtieri said Smith is addicted to prescription pain medication. Gualteri described Smith as a “good deputy, good cop” who let a problem escalate out of control.

Gualtieri said Smith was "broken. He didn't have any money. He needed to pay bills. His cruiser, it was a mess. He may have even been living in it for a while."

While Gualtieri said he feels for Smith to an extent, “he needs to face the consequences for his actions. This spiraled too far and now he’s facing some serious felony charges."

Prescription pill addictions remain a serious problem in Pinellas County, Gualtieri said.

"We see this time and time again, people in all walks of life," Gualtieri said. "The bottom falls out and their life is destroyed because of the addiction."

Smith was hired by the agency in October 2012 and worked in patrol until transferring to narcotics. He was back on patrol prior to his Wednesday termination and arrest, Gualtieri said.

Smith was charged with possession of hydrocodone, grand theft of law enforcement equipment and grand theft. He was released from the Pinellas County Jail early Thursday morning in lieu of $17,000 bond jail records indicate.

Booking photo courtesy of the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office