Officers remove
9 mm handgun
from convicted
felon

By Misti Drew
Tribune-Courier News Editor
mdrew@tribunecourier.com

BENTON – Yet another armed robbery has occurred in the area, but this time, the suspects didn’t get away.

According to a release from the Kentucky State Police, Post 1, they were notified of an attempted armed robbery at the Southern Pride Truck Stop off Interstate 24 in McCracken County shortly after 2 a.m. Dec. 20.

Trooper Eric Fields was patrolling Interstate 24 and proceeded toward the complaint. Calvert City Officer Robbie West advised Fields he was behind the suspect’s vehicle, a white Chevrolet Camaro driven by Anthony R. Smith, of Paducah.

Fields, assisted by Calvert City Police Department and the Livingston County Sheriff’s Department attempted a felony traffic stop on Smith’s vehicle in Livingston County, but he refused to yield and accelerated in an attempt to flee.

Smith was pursued for approximatley five miles before he exited Interstate 24 at Exit 40 and turned northeast on US 62/641.

Upon reaching the intersection of US 641 and KY 1943, Smith lost control of his vehicle and left the roadway while trying to make a turn.

As Smith was attempting to re-enter the roadway, Fields blocked his path with his cruiser, causing minor damage to the passenger side bumper of the trooper’s vehicle. Smiths’ vehicle became stuck in the mud and Smith fled the scene on foot.

A female passenger in the vehicle, later identified as Amber L. Davis, of Livingston County, was taken into custody without incident.

KSP Trooper David Archer responded with his KSP canine in an attempt to locate Smith.

Troopers and other area officers and deputies were assisting Archer with the track when the canine alerted to an area in a patch of woods approximately 200 yards from where suspect’s vehicle had crashed.

Upon entering the wooded area, officers observed Smith lying on the ground.

They gave several verbal commands for Smith to surrender and show his hands, but he was not compliant. Smith advised officers he had a gun in his waistband and also stated he had a bomb attached to his person that would detonate.

Smith was taken into custody after a struggle with officers. He was tased by Trooper Derek Smith and Calvert City Police Department Officer Robbie West.

During the struggle, Fields successfully disarmed Smith of a 9 mm handgun, believed to have been the same gun used in the robbery at Southern Pride.

Smith continued to resist arrest. Officers had to use force to overcome Smith’s resistance, until he could be restrained in handcuffs.

Smith was transported to Lourdes Hospital where he was treated and released for removal of a Taser probe from his facial area and injuries sustained from resisting arrest. KSP states there was no explosive device found on Anthony Smith.

Smith and Davis were transported by the Kentucky State Police to the McCracken County Sheriff’s Department where they were interviewed by deputies concerning the armed robbery complaint. Mr. Smith was later charged by the McCracken County Sheriff’s Deparment with first-degree robbery.

Kentucky State Police charged Anthony Smith with the following fourteen traffic offenses including DUI-4th offense and driving on DUI suspended, second offense, first-degree fleeing and evading police, twelve (12) counts of first-degree wanton endangerment, three counts of terroristic threatening, fourth-degree assault (pertaining to a minor injury to passenger Amber Davis), resisting arrest, criminal mischief-2nd degree, possession of a handgun by a convicted felon, first-degree fleeing/evading police (on foot) and carrying a concealed deadly weapon.

Smith was also charged by the McCracken County Sheriff’s Department on multiple outstanding arrest warrants from Graves and McCracken Counties.

Davis was lodged in the McCracken County Jail on a charge of second-degree hindering apprehension or prosecution.