Missing from the headline: Police at fault in shootings, drowning

“Missing from the headline” is a new sub-series I’m starting to review stories the press missed, overlooked or even suppressed in highly-publicized news.

Two recent cases brought the need for this to my attention; details about the Texas church shooting that were intentionally obfuscated, and the victim of the Tennessee officer’s drowning being completely ignored.

Case Study One: Tabitha Smith

Tabitha Smith was arrested for getting into an argument following a disturbance call at about 10 pm late Wednesday night (Feb. 14, 2024). 

The details of the argument remain unknown, as the arresting officer never made it to the station.

The deputy texted his wife, bragging about making his first arrest having recently relocated to Tennessee from New York.