43-year-old Darnell Smith was involved in a domestic altercation with his girlfriend, Roshik Merritt, while at his Whitfield Road residence on June 25th. When officers arrived at the scene, they spoke with Merritt, who stated that Smith arrived at the residence with a friend that Merritt did not want inside. Merritt informed officers that she told Smith she did not want the friend at the residence. Smith then proceeded to grab Merritt by the throat and begin strangling her, pinning her against the wall. Merritt noted that she felt like she was going to lose consciousness. Merritt then told officers that she, in self-defense, punched Smith two times in the mouth while she was being strangled to make him release her. Officers then spoke with Smith, who, when asked about his swollen lip, stated he did not know how his lip got injured and that no assault had occurred. Smith was then deemed the primary aggressor and was taken into custody for aggravated assault.
