Woman arrested, arrives at jail unconscious

SAFFORD – Authorities were dispatched to an address on Hollywood Road Sunday, just after midnight. It was reported there had been a physical fight between several people, one of which was a woman with a knife. The woman was identified as Darline Smith. After requiring officers to have taser and duty weapons drawn, Smith complied and was secured into handcuffs.

It was reported to officers, Smith had arrived at a family member’s home and began causing a disturbance. It was then agreed upon to take Smith to another family member’s residence. When Smith and two other family member’s entered the vehicle, Smith reportedly pulled a knife out with the blade open. The driver immediately pulled over, and along with the other passenger, exited the vehicle and retreated back towards the residence on foot with Smith following after them with the knife.

The reporting party said that the officers arrived before the situation escalated and were able to intervene. An officer noticed Smith’s hand was bleeding, and when asked, the reporting party stated that Smith was bleeding prior to showing up at the residence. When Smith was asked where she tossed the knife, she said that she was unsure. An officer on the scene located two knives behind a nearby trash can, both having fresh blood on them. One of them was a black switch blade and the other was silver in color with the blade opened. The knives were placed into evidence.

When an officer spoke with Smith, she reported that two males from the residence pulled a gun on her and Smith used the knives to defend herself. Smith was apparently speaking very quickly and erratically and often times about unrelated topics. After Lifeline evaluated Smith’s injuries to her hands, she was treated and cleared to be taken to jail. Smith was placed under arrest for Disorderly Conduct Involving a Dangerous Instrument/Deadly Weapon-Domestic Violence.

Authorities were informed Smith had left some personal items in the vehicle. A backpack was recovered that contained a BB gun that was a replica of a .357 magnum revolver. The barrel had “.357” written on it and the weight of it was consistent with that of a real firearm. The handle had an open cavity for a CO2 charge, and the bullets that were found in the cylinder of the gun but were also discovered to be replica rounds that fire BB’s. In the backpack was a metal smoking device with residue that appeared to be from marijuana use and smelled of marijuana. When Smith was asked about having a medical marijuana card, she claimed to have one but was unable to produce it in her possession. Also in the backpack was a small metal container which contained various credit cards and ID’s. When asked about one of the ID’s, Smith went into a vicious rage and began kicking the door and window of the patrol vehicle. After Smith was instructed to calm down, she eventually complied.

On the way to the jail, at times Smith became upset, yelling and screaming profanity, however, in an attempt to de-escalate the hostility, the officer refused to speak with her. When the officer arrived at the jail, Smith was found to have wrapped her seatbelt several times around her neck. When the officer removed the seatbelt, Smith’s body was limp and she was found to be unconscious.

The officer quickly left the jail with lights and siren and headed  to the hospital. Upon arrival, ER staff assisted with performing CPR and were able to get a pulse and Smith breathing. As ER staff continued to evaluate Smith, she became extremely combative and required several staff and three other officers to restrain and secure her to the hospital bed. In the process, Smith bit a hospital staff member on the arm, causing a large red mark. The officer was informed Smith would need to be evaluated for some time and the officer would be contacted when she was cleared.

At 5:00 am, the hospital contacted the officer and Smith was medically cleared to be taken to jail. Smith tested positive for methamphetamine, marijuana, and opiates. Smith was booked into the Graham County Jail for Disorderly Conduct Involving a Dangerous Instrument/Deadly Weapon, Misconduct Involving Weapons-Prohibited Possessor, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, and Aggravated Assault on a Healthcare Professional.

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