State police sergeant faces second arrest in a year

Connecticut State Police Training Academy, in Meriden Connecticut State Police Training Academy, in Meriden Photo: Ned Gerard / Hearst Connecticut Media Photo: Ned Gerard / Hearst Connecticut Media Image 1 of / 1 Caption Close State police sergeant faces second arrest in a year 1 / 1 Back to Gallery

The Southington Police Department arrested a Connecticut State Police sergeant Friday.

It was the trooper’s second arrest in just over six months.

Gregory Smith, who is in his forties, has been placed on a leave of absence “as a result of the arrest and the seriousness of the employee’s alleged conduct,” Connecticut State Police announced in a release Saturday.

The reason for Smith’s latest arrest was unclear. A Southington police sergeant said Saturday that information would not be available until Monday, when the media relations officer returned.

Gregory Smith, was previously arrested in July, when he was 42, on charges of assault, threatening and reckless endangerment, according to the state’s online court database search, which indicates the case is still pending.

The charges resulted from his wife’s allegation that he had “continuously physically assaulted her” after they were married last January.

Smith’s wife alleged that he pointed a gun at her in two separate incidents.

State police made the arrest in the first case.

They then put Smith on administrative leave, according to Saturday’s release, which says that an internal investigation is ongoing.

meghan.friedmann@hearstmediact.com