Witnesses would not allow him to leave until law enforcement arrived, according to the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office. He told deputies he did not remember the incident and that he had taken LSD.

LEALMAN – A St. Petersburg man was arrested after witnesses said he punched a 13-year-old girl so hard that she lost consciousness, the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office said.

The girl was treated at the scene.

Kolbe Wayne Smith, 27, of St. Petersburg, was charged with one count each of aggravated child abuse, violation of probation felony battery, and resisting arrest without violence.

Deputies were called to the Race Trac gas station at 2551 54th Ave. N in the unincorporated Lealman area about 3 p.m. Saturday (April 21) for a report of a man hitting a 13-year-old girl.

Smith, who was not known to the 13 year old, walked into the Race Trac store and, with no provocation, hit the girl in the face so hard that she lost consciousness and fell down. Deputies said her parents were outside pumping gas when it happened. Several citizens stood outside the store and would not allow Smith to leave after they witnessed the incident.

Deputies said, with the help of an unknown citizen, they tried to take Smith into custody, but he refused. Smith continued to resist until deputies used a TASER. Deputies said Smith appeared to be under the influence of an unknown substance.

Smith received a small cut on his head and left ear from striking the tile floor that required medical treatment at a nearby hospital. He was medically cleared before he was taken to jail.

Deputies said that, when they questioned Smith, he denied having any recollection of the incident and admitted to taking the drug “LSD.”

Pinellas Sheriff | Crime | Child Abuse | Arrests | Tampabay News

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