Treatment Not Prison for Man Who Pulled Knife on Deputy

LIVINGSTON COUNTY – The Springwater man who was arrested after pulling a knife on a Livingston County Sheriff’s Deputy pled guilty to a felony Tuesday morning with a promise to be sentenced to a military-style prison camp instead of hard time.

Patrick Smith, 36, appeared in court with his family to plead guilty to Attempted Menacing a Police Officer, an E felony, with a sentence promise of Shock camp with the Department of Corrections and 5 years of probation instead of over a year in state prison.

“This was one of the most interesting pre-plea investigations that I have ever read,” said Assistant District Attorney Josh Tonra. “Sergeant Joe Zambito has done two favors for Mr. Smith. Second, that he recommended that Mr. Smith not go to state prison and be treated, and first, that he did not injure or kill Mr. Smith on the day in question.”

Zambito said that he considered local incarceration more appropriate for Smith rather than up to 5 years in state prison.

Tonra said that Zambito was among Deputies who responded to a 911 call from Smith’s home on Mar. 2 when Smith pulled the knife. Zambito was able to talk Smith down and arrest him without further incident.

Smith’s attorney, Lisa Siragusa, said that Smith has taken several steps to resolve mental health problems since the incident. She added for the record that Smith did not intend to harm Zambito or anyone else on the day of his arrest.

“[Smith] was not trying to hurt anyone but himself that day,” said Siragusa, “and that was because he was being terrorized.”

Judge Robert Wiggins wished Smith well at the end of the appearance.

“Good luck, sir,” said Judge Wiggins. “Sounds like things are on the upswing.”