Two Monmouth County Officers Attacked and Hospitalized While Trying to Make Arrest

Two officers from Keyport were viciously attacked while trying to place a 21-year-old man under arrest, according to Monmouth County court documents.

Donte Smith, of Beers Street in Keyport, is alleged in the court documents to have head-butted a male officer hard enough in the face that he caused the officer’s nose to bleed and his face to have “visible injuries”. Smith also is charged with kicking a female officer in her face and left hand, causing facial lacerations.

A Keyport police official identified the two officers as Sergeant Steven Dixon and Officer Cassandra Aumack. The official, who declined to give their name, said that both officers were taken to the hospital for their injuries, but have since been released. The official also declined to reveal the events that led to Smith being placed under arrest in the first place, citing an ongoing police investigation.

Smith was eventually subdued and arrested, and subsequently charged with two second-degree counts of Committing Aggravated Assault by Causing Bodily Injury or Harm on a Law Enforcement Officer, court records state. He was brought to Monmouth County Correctional Institute in lieu of $85,000 bail, with no 10% posting option, as set by Judge Joseph DeFino. Smith was scheduled with a first court appearance of November 10, at 3:00 p.m.

Despite these charges, every defendant is presumed innocent, unless and until found guilty beyond a reasonable doubt, following a trial at which the defendant has all of the trial rights guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution and State law.