Rick Patrick
rick@greenepublishing.com
On Monday, April 24, Eric Erron Smith, date of birth July 15, 1997, appeared before Judge Melissa G. Olin in the Madison County Courthouse, to answer on numerous charges ranging from carjacking to battery on a person 65 years of age or older. The charges stemmed from a carjacking and subsequent high-speed car chase in September of 2022.
According to Smith's arrest report, filed on Sept. 21, 2022, by Deputy Terry, with the Madison County Sheriff's Office (MCSO), Tommie Indence, the owner of a Mercedes GLC 300 was coming out of the restroom at the I-10 west bound rest area at the 263-mile marker, when she saw her friend, Jane Brown, struggling with an African American man wearing a black t-shirt and gray pants. The man, later identified as Smith, shoved Brown to the ground causing Brown to strike her head on the concrete. Smith then ran to Indence's Mercedes and entered the vehicle. Indence said before she could make it to her vehicle, James Joyce, an employee at the rest area, opened the driver's door of the vehicle to confront Smith. Indence said Smith began punching Joyce in the face. Indence said, at this point, she opened the back door of the vehicle and removed her purse, but before she could get away from the vehicle, Smith put the vehicle in reverse and backed out of the parking spot, striking Indence and knocking her to the ground. Indence said Smith then fled the rest area on the interstate in her Mercedes. Indence did not receive any visible injuries.
In speaking with Brown, Deputy Terry noted that as she was exiting the restroom, Smith approached her and began to speak unintelligibly to her. Thinking Smith was asking for money, she told him “no,” and began walking away, toward the Mercedes, the keys to which Brown held. Smith approached her again and continued to speak unintelligibly. Brown told Smith “no” again and Smith snatched the keys from her and began walking towards the vehicle. Brown said Smith approached her again and attempted to take her purse. Brown resisted and Smith shoved her down, causing her to hit her head on the concrete so aggressively that her hearing aid fell out of her ear. Deputy Terry said he observed several lacerations on the back of Brown's head and a blood patch on the concrete where Brown had struck her head. Photographs were taken of Brown's injuries and the blood spot on the concrete and were attached to Deputy Terry's report. It was noted that Brown was 73 years of age when this incident happened. Brown was evaluated on-scene by Emergency Medical Technicians, but refused transport.
A pursuit ensued on the interstate, with Smith driving the stolen Mercedes. During the pursuit, Smith struck the marked patrol cars containing MCSO Deputy Brian Bish and MCSO Deputy G. Alexander. The pursuit ended in Jefferson County. Smith was arrested and the Mercedes was turned over to the Florida Highway Patrol.
During his day in court, Smith was adjudicated guilty on the charges of carjacking, aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer with a deadly weapon, fleeing police officer at a high speed or reckless driving, two counts of battery on a person 65 years of age or older and a separate count of battery.
For his crimes, Smith was sentenced to 15 years in the Department of Corrections, with 214 days of credit for time served. Smith was also sentenced to five years in prison on the battery charges, to be served concurrently with the 15 years. He was also sentenced to a total of 34 years of probation, to be served concurrently, but consecutive to his prison terms. Smith will have to serve 100 hours of community service within 30 days of his eventual release from prison. Smith will have to submit to random urine tests and will be on 12 months of community control after his prison term is complete. Smith was also ordered to pay several thousands of dollars in fines, court costs and restitution. Smith's driver's license was also revoked for one year.