A former Caldwell County detention officer is due to appear in court today on assault charges following his arrest by agents from the State Bureau of Investigation on Friday.

Derrick Vance Smith, 33, of Lenoir, was charged with one felony count of assault on a handicapped person and one misdemeanor count of obstruction of justice. Smith was a detention officer at the Caldwell County Detention Center prior to his arrest. Smith was released from employment with the sheriff’s office on Monday, August 24.

Smith was given a $25,000 secured bond and processed at the Caldwell County Detention Center before being released.

The incident was reported to the district attorney’s office by Caldwell County Sheriff Alan Jones. The DA’s office requested the SBI to investigate the incident which involved a defendant in custody at the time of the assault.

Sheriff Jones stated “this type of behavior is not tolerated at the sheriff’s office, nor will it ever be tolerated by the sheriff’s office.”

The SBI investigation is still ongoing.

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