KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The Jackson County Sheriff’s Deputy who shot a woman in the back and pleaded guilty Monday to first-degree assault will be fired.
Sheriff Darryl Forté said in a statement to 41 Action News on Tuesday that he “was made aware of the plea agreement yesterday afternoon,” which Deputy Lauren Michael entered in connection to a first-degree assault charge for shooting a woman four times in the back two summers ago.
Forté continued, “Deputy Michael remains listed as a County employee. The separation process of Deputy Michael from the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office commenced today.”
Michael has been on unpaid leave since she was charged with assault and armed criminal action in October 2019, according to a spokesman for the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office.
The armed criminal action charge was dropped as part of the plea agreement announced Monday by the Jackson County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office.
Michael was canvassing a Midtown neighborhood after an incident involving two people riding a Bird scooter against traffic near Westport on Aug. 8, 2019, led to a crash with a Jackson County deputy’s vehicle and brief foot chase near 37th and Main streets.
She saw a person fitting the description of the female passenger on the scooter who fled the scene.
Michael pulled the woman, later identified as Brittany Smiek, to the ground by her hair and tased her. She then claimed Simek took the Taser and used it on her, an account disputed by evidence from the investigation.
As Simek fled, Michael fired four shots, striking Simek four times in the back and buttocks with hollow round rounds.
Simek, a Leavenworth native and Coast Guard veteran, filed a civil lawsuit against Michael.
Prosecutors will recommend 120 days of shock time as part of a six-year suspended sentence, which includes three years of probation. Michael’s sentencing is scheduled for March 25.
The incident was not the first time Michael shot a civilian.
Michael shot and killed Donald Sneed outside a Walmart in Raytown in May 2017 during an altercation following an alleged shoplifting.
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