Ex-Capitol Police Officer Sentenced After Car Chase and Crash in Georgetown – NBC4 Washington

A former U.S. Capitol Police officer was sentenced Monday to 21 months in prison for violating a person's civil rights when he took part in an unauthorized high-speed chase that resulted in a crash, authorities say.

Officer Thomas Smith was scheduled to check on congressmen's homes in the Georgetown area around 11:30 p.m. on June 20, 2020, when he began pursuing two motorcycles, prosecutors said.

Prosecutors said Smith followed the motorcyclists “closely” at a “high rate of speed” before driving his marked patrol car into one of the motorcyclists, sending him flying. Smith left the injured driver unconscious on the concrete, swapped his car, didn't press charges and falsified police records to cover up his actions, prosecutors said.

Smith pleaded guilty last October to deprivation of rights under the guise of the law.

Kristen Clarke, assistant attorney general for the Justice Department's Civil Rights Division, said the department will aggressively prosecute officials, including law enforcement, who abuse positions of power.

“Endangering community members in this way and disregarding the law violates the civil rights of victims and undermines the trust of those whom police are sworn to protect and serve,” Clarke said in a statement.

U.S. Capitol Police policy prohibits officers from conducting pursuits outside the Capitol grounds without permission from a supervisor, which Smith did not seek or alert, prosecutors say.

In addition to his prison sentence, Smith was sentenced to 24 months of supervised release, 40 hours of community service and $4,455 in back wages.