St. Pete Man Arrested For Punching 13-Year-Old Girl For No Reason

ST. PETERSBURG, FL -- Pinellas County Sheriff's deputies have charged a St. Petersburg man with aggravated child abuse after reportedly punching a child.

Deputies responded to the Race Trac gas station at 2551 54th Ave. N., St. Petersburg, after receiving a report of a man striking a 13-year-old. Witnesses said the man, identified as 27-year-old Kolbe Wayne Smith, 6109 Hobson St. N.E., St. Petersburg, walked into the store and, without provocation, punched the girl in the head, causing her to lose consciousness and fall to the floor.

Detectives say Smith did not know the girl. Her parent was outside pumping gas when the assault occurred.

Witnesses stood outside of the door of the store and refused to allow Smith to leave while they waited for deputies to arrive.

Smith resisted two attempts to arrest him so deputies used a taser to take him into custody. Deputies say he appeared to be under the influence of a drug.

The 13 year-old victim was treated at the scene by EMS and released to her parents.

Smith received a small laceration on his head and left ear from striking the tile floor, which required medical treatment at a nearby hospital. Once he was medically cleared, he was booked into the Pinellas County Jail.

Deputies say Smith admitted to taking LSD and did not recall striking the girl.

He was charged with one count of aggravated child abuse, violation of probation, felony battery and resisting arrest.

Image via Pinellas County Sheriff