Smyrna Officer Involved in Fatal Shooting Faced Assault, Battery Charges in '99: Report

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Credit: Smyrna Police Department

The Smyrna police officer who killed a 25-year-old man in Vinings last week has had previous violent incidents, according to reports.

The Marietta Daily Journal cites a Peace Officer Standards and Training Council (POST) case summary which states that Sgt. Kenneth Owens, then a member of the Cobb County Police Department, was charged with simple battery and simple assault family violence after he allegedly threw a shoe at his wife during an argument about his uniform in March of 1999. He resigned from the department 10 days after his arrest, the MDJ says.

Owens’ battery charge was dropped due to the First Offender Act in May, and he was instead given a disorderly conduct charge, the MDJ says. In September of 2001, Owens joined the Smyrna Police Department, where he served as a sergeant and commander in the Street Crimes Unit until last week’s shooting.

More on the Killing of Nicholas Thomas From Smyrna-Vinings Patch:

• Vigil For Man Killed by Smyrna Police Draws Hundreds of Supporters
• Prayer Vigil Planned For Man Killed by Smyrna Police
• Smyrna Police Identify Officers Involved in Fatal Shooting Incident
• Protesters Disrupt Smyrna-Area Restaurants After Police Shooting
• Smyrna Police Chief: Cobb PD, DA’s Office Will Investigate Officer-Involved Killing
• Family of Man Slain By Smyrna Police Want Independent Investigation
• UPDATE: Police Say Vinings Shooting Victim Drove Vehicle At Officers, One Officer Opened Fire

On March 24, Owens fatally shot unarmed Nicholas Thomas in the parking lot of the Goodyear the Vinings Crossing shopping center where Thomas worked while attempting to serve an arrest warrant on him. Owens was joined by six other Smyrna and Cobb County officers at the scene, and feared for the lives of his fellow officers when Thomas drove a customer’s Maserati towards the officers in a reckless manner, police said.

Thomas’ family disputes the official story and wants the Georgia Bureau of Investigationto be the lead agency investigating the shooting. The family is outraged that the Cobb County Police Department is heading up the investigation, while Smyrna police conduct their own internal inquest. Smyrna police chief David Lee said that the investigations would be closely monitored by the Cobb County District Attorney’s Office and the GBI.

Owens has been placed on administrative leave pending the outcome of the investigation, police said.