NEWS RELEASE

SEASIDE POLICE ARREST KIDNAP/ASSAULT SUSPECT

Monday evening shortly before 11:45 p.m., Seaside Police responded to 320 N. Downing on a report of a subject who threatened two teenage boys with a knife and was now hiding in the bushes. When officers arrived they found Paul Smith, age 20 leaving the area. Smith initially refused to respond to officer’s commands until he was warned a Taser would be used and he then complied. Officers detained him as they conducted interviews to determine what had taken place.

Officers discovered that earlier, Smith had come to his sister’s residence and threatened his nephew Zachary Prentice, age 17 and his friend Derek Astor, age 17 with a utility knife and forced Prentice into the back seat of Astor’s 1986 Mazda and forced Astor to drive him towards Warrenton. During the drive Smith continued to threaten Astor with the knife and at one point cutting his right arm. Astor suffered a superficial cut approximately one and half inches in length and did not require medical attention. After forcing Astor to drive him through the Gearhart area at high rates of speed and destroying property in the vehicle, Astor was able to return to N. Downing. Once at the residence, Astor ran from the vehicle and the police were called after Smith damaged some plants and his sister was concerned about what he may do next.

Paul Smith was taken into custody and later transported to the Clatsop County Jail charged with two counts of Kidnapping, two counts of Coercion, two counts of Menacing, Assault 2^nd , Unlawful use of a Weapon, Criminal Mischief II, Criminal Mischief III, and Minor in Possession/Consumption of Alcohol. The case is being sent to the District Attorney’s Officer for review and formal charges.

Robert Gross

Chief of Police

(503) 738-6311