Virgil Smith during a 2012 Senate invocation.
Tuesday, 5:13 p.m. -- WDIV reports that Sen. Virgil Smith has posted bond and his free.
Tuesday: 3:55 p.m. -- State Sen. Virgil Smith's incident on Sunday is costing him up in Lansing. The Detroit News reports that Senate Minority Leader Jim Ananich, D-Flint, stripped Smith of his committee assignments Tuesday and kicked him out of the Democratic caucus.
Tuesday, 2:25 p.m.: Authorities have charged state Sen. Virgil Smith with felonious assault, malicious destruction of personal property $20,000 or more, domestic violence assault and battery, and a felony firearm count, The Detroit News reports.
The charges stem from a Sunday incident in which Smith, 35, got into a confrontation with his ex-wife at his Detroit home, and ended up firing a rifle that struck her Mercedes Benz.
"The alleged actions of Senator Smith cannot and will not be tolerated," Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy says in a statement. "We asked for further work on the warrant and the information was received this morning. We let the facts and evidence guide our charging decision."
Smith, a Detroit Democrat, is the son of Chief Wayne County Circuit Judge Virgil Smith.
Tuesday, 1:53 p.m.: Police resubmitted a warrant requesting felony charges for state Sen. Virgil Smith, the Detroit News reports. On Monday, police had submitted a warrant, but prosecutors sent it back, saying they wanted more information on the case.
From Monday Night
Here arer more details in the life and times of State Sen. Virgil Smith of Detroit, who had been arrested Sunday after firing a rifle and striking his ex-wife's Mercedes Benz outside his west side home.
George Hunter of the Detroit writes that Smith told police his ex-wife stormed into his house at 1 a.m. on Sunday and attempted to assault his girlfriend in the bedroom.
Smith said he intervened and grabbed his ex-wife, eventually forced her out of the house and then did “the most stupid thing in his life” — opened fire on her Mercedes with a rifle. The information was contained in a police report obtained by the Detroit News. Fox 2 reports that he's still in jail.
Hunter writes that Smith was naked when he met his ex-wife at the front door, according to the ex-wife, who is not named by the Detroit News.
Police arrested Smith, D-Detroit, in connection with the shooting outside his house in the 18000 block of Wexford on the city’s west side, the News reports. Police are seeking charges of aggravated assault with a gun and malicious destruction of property. The prosecutor's office has asked police to further investigate the matter.
A second police report contained the ex-wife’s side of the story. According to the News, she said Smith had invited her to stay the night at his house, and, when she arrived, “she was met by a naked (Smith) and an (unknown) female,” the report said. “At this time she became angry and upset, and both started verbally arguing.
“At some point during the argument (Smith) grabbed her by the back of her head and shoved her face first into the carpet. Victim stood up and was struck by (Smith) 4-5 (times) in the face with closed fist causing cheeks on both sides of her face to swell.”
Smith’s ex-wife told police she ran out the front door, and that he chased her with “an (unknown) type long gun and followed behind. She observed muzzle flash (three times) as suspect began firing at her,” the report said, according to The News.
