Former LCSO captain Grier T. Smith was cleared by the June term Lamar County grand jury today of charges filed against him for allegedly taping a riot control grenade to an inmates neck. Smith, 34, was a patrol division captain under former sheriff Joe Buice when he allegedly taped the device to the neck of inmate Edward Lee Shepard. He was charged with violation of oath of office and aggravated assault. Smith also worked for sheriff Larry Waller during a previous administration. This was Smith’s second appearance before a grand jury. Both ended in his exoneration. After being cleared by the grand jury today, Smith ripped Waller, alleging he was charged only to further Waller’s political agenda. Smith’s full statement follows: The decision to no bill this case today was the only correct and sensible course of action. It is a disgrace that Sheriff Waller has wasted the time of the Grand Jury and the assets of State and local law enforcement agencies on such frivolous charges. Waller should be ashamed at the wasting of taxpayer money in this time of financial hardship and economic recession merely to further his own political agenda. Larry Waller has built an empire upon dishonest and deceitful law enforcement practices with an absolute contempt for the law abiding citizens of this county’¦I intend to burn it down. Waller’s abuse of his constitutional power must end.
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