Trial continued for man accused of shooting officer
DE QUEEN, Ark. — The trial for a man accused of shooting and wounding a police officer during a July pursuit has been reset for June in Sevier County Circuit Court.
Kenneth Lee Smith, 38, of De Queen, is charged with attempted capital murder, four counts of attempted murder, first-degree battery and aggravated residential burglary.
Smith and attorney Eric Martz were in court Thursday for a pretrial. The case was continued until June, with a pretrial scheduled for June 6 and a trial date of June 26, according to court records.
Smith remains in the Sevier County jail on a $1 million cash-only bond.
At Approximately 3:55 a.m. on July 8, 2023, officers with the Sevier County Sheriff’s Office were dispatched to 113 Sweet Home Lane to a domestic disturbance in which a shooting was reported.
Upon arrival, the responding officer was met with gunfire. His patrol unit was hit with multiple rounds.
As additional officers arrived on scene, Smith allegedly fled on a motorcycle.
Sheriff’s Office deputies and De Queen Police Department pursued Smith, who allegedly fled at a high rate of speed. During the pursuit, Smith allegedly fired multiple rounds at law enforcement while he was traveling south on state Highway 41 into Little River County.
Officers disabled Smith’s motorcycle after he reached speeds of more than 90 mph and was traveling south in the northbound lane of traffic, a news release from the Sheriff’s Office stated.
During the pursuit, Smith allegedly fired shots that struck patrol units driven by a Sheriff’s Office deputy and De Queen Police Lt. Chad Bradshaw. Bradshaw also was struck in the shoulder.
Arkansas State Police, 9th West Judicial District Drug Task Force, Little River County Sheriff’s Office, Arkansas Highway Police and the Arkansas Department of Corrections apprehended Smith after a manhunt that lasted several hours.