Tom Green County Man Arrested After Violently Assaulting Family Members Early Thursday

SAN ANGELO – A Tom Green County man was arrested on domestic violence charges after assaulting family members and barricading himself in a rural home early Thursday morning.  

According to information from the Tom Green County Sheriff's Office,  Dispatch received a 911 call concerning a domestic issue in the area of Lakota Lane in unincorporated Tom Green County shortly after 1 a.m. Thursday.  The caller advised her husband was intoxicated, was yelling at her, and had pushed her.  She also advised the husband had guns in the bedroom.  The incident became physical while dispatch was still on the phone with the caller and when Patrol Deputies arrived, a male, later identified as Rodney Smith, 54 years old, immediately entered a master bedroom and barricaded himself and a protective K-9 within. 

Two adult victims and two juvenile subjects were safely evacuated by Deputies and taken to a neighbor's residence where the investigation continued.  Deputies held the area and continually attempted contact with Smith, with negative results.  The two adult female victims, both family members, were physically assaulted by Smith.   One of the victims was strangled during the incident.  It was also determined that  Smith made multiple threats toward the victims and took a cell phone from a victim's hand as she was attempting to call 911.  Smith also stated he would kill himself if law enforcement was called.  Members of the Special Response Team and the Crisis Negotiation Unit responded to assist.

After some time, communication was established with Smith and after brief negotiations, he was safely taken into custody at 5:13 am.  Smith was transported to the Tom Green County Detention Center  and booked in on the following charges:

Assault Family Violence Impeded Breath/Circulation, a Class 3 Felony

Assault Family Violence Causes Bodily Injury, a Class A Misdemeanor

Interfere with Emergency Request for Assistance, a Class A Misdemeanor

This case remains under investigation.