State cop accused of assaulting, threatening wife

MIDDLETOWN — A state police sergeant is facing two misdemeanors and a felony after his wife alleged he had “continuously physically assaulted her” since they were married in January.

Gregory Smith, 42, a patrol sergeant assigned to Connecticut State Police Troop F in Westbrook, was arrested Friday after state police obtained a warrant charging him with firstdegree threatening, thirddegree assault and firstdegree reckless endangerment.

Smith was released after posting a $50,000 bond and was arraigned Monday in Superior Court in Middletown, where a judge issued a protective order barring Smith from contacting his wife and referred the case to the court’s family relations office.

Smith is suspended with pay from the department while the case is pending, according to state police. An internal investigation also is underway. He has surrendered all weapons he owns, per state law.

According to the arrest warrant, Smith’s wife went to the state police barracks in Colchester Thursday night. In a sworn statement the next day, she said she had met Smith last April, got engaged in July and married in January.

She said Smith was very nice to her while they were dating, but became more and more difficult once the couple was married.

For example, she said that on Valentine’s Day 2019, Smith became upset with her after an argument, held a gun against his head and said, “I am going to end it.”

“Greg has put a firearm to his head in the past on more than one occasion,” the warrant said Smith’s wife told police.

Over time, she told police, Smith’s “temper has become increasingly more volatile and dangerous.”

She detailed incidents in May during which she said he bruised and scratched her arm and again put a gun to his head, and another in June during which she said he pulled a clump of her hair out during an argument they had in Rhode Island.

She said they were having an argument over bills at their East Haddam home July 7 when Smith put in her a headlock and covered her mouth when she began screaming for help.

Afterward, she said Smith pointed one of his guns at her.

The warrant says Smith’s wife played an audio recording of the incident for detectives, and that members of her family corrroborated her statement.

Smith’s next court date is Aug. 9.