SLED indicts former North Charleston police officer for misconduct in office
Tuesday, Dec 10, 2024
The South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) indicted Louis Marion Smoak, 44, for Misconduct in Office on Wednesday, December 4, 2024.
The SLED investigation was requested on January 22, 2024, by the North Charleston Police Department regarding a use of force incident on Dorchester Road in Summerville, SC, on or about November 25, 2023.
On or about November 25, 2023, in a Walmart parking lot in Dorchester County, Smoak did commit the offense of Public Official, Misconduct in Office (8-1-80). The defendant, Smoak, while acting in his capacity as a police officer with the North Charleston Police Department (NCPD) at the time of the incident, did use excessive force against the victim, who was handcuffed, by striking the victim in the chest with a closed fist, forcefully removing the victim from a patrol vehicle, causing the victim’s head to strike the pavement, and slamming the victim’s head against the patrol vehicle.
The indictment is attached.
Smoak was booked into the Dorchester County Detention Center.
The case will be prosecuted by the 1st Circuit Solicitor’s Office.
