The FWPD is aware of a video circulating social media, regarding the arrest of Tyana Smith early Monday morning at roughly 3:35 am in the area of Abbott/Manford and FWPD Chief Caudill has initiated a formal internal investigation to ensure all rules, regulations, and policies were followed.
Fort Wayne Police Department incident report:
Date: August 5, 2024
Location: the intersection of Abbott Street and Manford Street, Fort Wayne, Indiana
Time: 03:35 hours
Suspect Arrested: Tyjana Smith, 29 years of age
Preliminary Charges:
- Arrest Warrant for Driving While Suspended
- Driving While Suspended (Prior) Misdemeanor
- Refusal to Identify Self Misdemeanor
- Resisting Law Enforcement (Physical) Level 6 Felony
- Battery to Public Official Causing Bodily Injury Level 6 Felony
Details/Summary:
The FWPD is aware of a video circulating social media, regarding the arrest of Tyana Smith early Monday morning at roughly 3:35 am in the area of Abbott/Manford. Chief Caudill has initiated a formal internal investigation to ensure all rules, regulations, and policies were followed. The officers involved in this incident will be reassigned during the course of the internal investigation. The internal investigation will look at all facets of the incident, to include all available video, as well as body camera footage, and whether the use-of-force was reasonable.
A FWPD officer observed the vehicle Tyjana was driving, ran a stop sign, while driving at a high rate of speed. Tyjana had an arrest warrant, refused to identify, and was non-compliant with the officer’s directives. She refused to exit the vehicle, and after numerous attempts to get her to exit voluntarily; officers had to forcefully remove her. She physically resisted, causing the officers to use force to gain compliance. This incident remains under investigation by the Fort Wayne Police Department and the Allen County Prosecutor’s Office.