Daytona Beach police officer resigns after investigation shows she lied about shooting

VOLUSIA COUNTY, Fla. — A Daytona Beach police officer claimed she was targeted in a drive-by shooting and forced to open fire, but an internal investigation has found she was drunk and lied about what happened.

Michelle Smith resigned from her post after investigators discovered she was the one who instigated the confrontation.

Smith told investigators on the morning of Sept. 8 she got into an argument with some people while she was walking her dog. Smith said they shot at her while they drove away and she fired back in self-defense.

The incident happened outside The Villages at Halifax apartments in Daytona Beach.

Snapchat video showed how Smith reacted as one of the men told her they didn’t want to fight.

Investigators said Smith challenged the group further by saying she wanted to “wrap them up,” a phrase that means to fight.

According to investigators, Smith initially told them she was the victim and had been confronted by a group of people while walking her dog.

Smith claimed the group shot at her while they drove away, and she fired back to protect herself.

But according to a 23-page internal affairs report, Smith was drunk and was the one threatening to fight the group of men, who were inside a car.

The report claims Smith also lied about the description of the cars.

She resigned from the department on Friday.

In her resignation letter, Smith said she was not treated fairly and was humiliated during the investigation.

The state attorney’s office will review the investigation and determine if charges will be filed.

Police said they are standing by their investigation.

Cox Media Group