10/22/2026
𝐌𝐢𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐞𝐥 𝐒𝐦𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐒𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝟏𝟎 𝐘𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐏𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐨𝐧 𝐅𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐨𝐰𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐎𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞 𝐂𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐎𝐟𝐟𝐢𝐜𝐞𝐫 𝐀𝐬𝐬𝐚𝐮𝐥𝐭
Michael Smith has been sentenced to 10 years in prison after a Volusia County jury found him guilty of aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer with a deadly weapon and resisting an officer with violence following an incident involving an Orange City police officer on Jan. 27, 2026.
On Jan. 27, an Orange City police officer encountered Smith standing on a sidewalk near a shopping complex with a stab wound to his neck. As the officer approached to provide assistance, he noticed Smith was holding a knife and repeatedly ordered him to drop the weapon.
Smith refused to comply and made aggressive movements toward the officer while holding the knife. Over the next five minutes, Smith continued walking and running away from the officer, ignoring repeated commands to stop and drop the weapon.
The officer attempted to use a Taser to subdue Smith, but the attempt was unsuccessful because Smith's jacket prevented the probes from making effective contact.
As Smith began entering a nearby bank while still armed with the knife, the officer discharged his fi***rm, striking Smith in the lower back. Despite being wounded, Smith continued into the bank and refused to drop the knife. Additional officers arrived shortly afterward and took him into custody.
No bank employees or customers were injured during the incident. Smith was transported to a hospital, where he received treatment and recovered from his injuries.
The Orange City Police Department remains committed to protecting the safety of its officers and the community. The department also extends its appreciation to the assisting law enforcement agencies for their support and coordination throughout the incident.
