He was ordered to avoid his ex. Kennewick police say he crashed into her car and then attacked

A Kennewick man is accused of intentionally crashing into his former girlfriend’s car, then attacking her.

A judge already had ordered Brent R. Smith, 42, to stay away from his ex because of previous cases.

Now he’s locked up on $100,000 bail.

During a court appearance last week, Smith crumpled up a new no-contact order immediately after a bailiff handed it to him.

He pleaded innocent Aug. 2 in Benton County Superior Court to felony violating a protection order and fourth-degree assault, both with domestic violence allegations.

His trial is set for Sept. 17.

He’s also scheduled for a trial Oct. 8 on two other cases: second-degree unlawful possession of a gun and felony violation of a protection order with domestic violence.

Smith was out of custody on those cases after posting bond in March.

His defense attorney, Kevin Holt, asked this week to hold off on arguing for a reduction of the new $100,000 bail amount.

Kennewick police were called July 6 about an assault that happened outside a Columbia Drive fast-food restaurant.

The victim told officers that she’d driven to a safe location before calling 911.

An officer who met with the woman noted she had red marks on her neck, according to court documents.

She said she had picked up a hamburger for a co-worker and was heading back to work when a white van crashed into her stopped car.

She got out and Smith hit her on the face, grabbed her neck and bit her, documents said.

She was able to get into her car and take off. Smith allegedly chased after her on foot.

A witness later told Kennewick police about hearing a crash and seeing a man attacking a woman, court documents said.

The witness confirmed seeing Smith running after her car, documents said.

Police found the van that Smith was driving in the restaurant’s parking lot. It was abandoned, with damage to the passenger side.

Officers couldn’t find Smith, so an arrest warrant was issued July 24.

In March, police got a call about a problem in the parking lot of the Benton County Justice Center in Kennewick.

An officer stopped the Subaru a short distance away with a woman driver and Smith as the passenger.

Smith admitted he wasn’t supposed to be around the woman — whom he identified as his fiancee — because of a protection order, documents said.

Smith’s second active case is from last October, when authorities allegedly found an AR-15 rifle in his bedroom.

The home where he lived was being searched for evidence of a hit-and-run and possession of stolen property, court documents said. Another resident told police they’d seen Smith recently cleaning the rifle, documents said.

Smith is not supposed to own or possess guns both because of his felony convictions and the domestic violence no-contact order.

This story was originally published August 3, 2018 at 5:32 PM.