N. Smith

Less-than-lethal force

N. Smith was a minor set up by police in a drug sting. Plainclothes police confronted Smith on the way to an alleged drug deal and attempted to arrest him. Smith violently resisted arrest. To gain control of Smith, officers pepper sprayed him, handcuffed him and punched him twice in the neck to stun him. Smith continued to resist and swallowed a baggie full of MDMA, ecstasy. An officer used a flashlight to pry Smith's mouth open and retrieve the drugs but was unsuccessful. By the time the drugs were removed, Smith began vomiting. By the time EMTs arrived, Smith was unconscious. He died five days later in the hospital. Smith's mother lost a federal wrongful death lawsuit in the case.