The police investigation into Geno Smith is officially on ice. Davie Police have classified the case as inactive after they couldn’t establish probable cause, according to a post from ESPN’s Rich Cimini. The decision comes down to a few key problems: no usable surveillance footage, conflicting accounts of what happened, and zero independent witnesses.
The whole thing started back on June 21 when a woman identified as Smith’s ex-girlfriend called 911 from his residence in Davie, Florida. She reported an alleged battery and later posted a video of the confrontation on social media. But when police tried to get the security camera footage from outside Smith’s home, they hit a wall. Smith told officers he didn’t know how to operate the cameras and would need to contact the company to access the footage. That never happened, apparently.
The police report paints a messy picture. The ring camera did capture the woman arriving at the house and “aggressively knocking on the door while holding his child.” She later walked out carrying a bag, with Smith following behind. The footage didn’t show any physical altercation. With no clear evidence of who started what, investigators said they couldn’t determine the primary aggressor. “Due to the inability to review surveillance footage, conflicting stories, and lack of independent witnesses, (the officer) was unable to determine the primary aggressor in the physical altercation,” the report stated.
So for now, no charges. The report suggests that’s unlikely to change unless new evidence or information surfaces.
What this means for Smith and the Jets
The NFL has been tracking this situation from the start. The league stays in constant communication with teams when any player is under investigation, and that’s been the case here with the Jets. Under the Personal Conduct Policy, the NFL can still step in even if local police don’t file charges, so it’s worth keeping an eye on whether the league decides to do its own digging.
Smith, 35, is entering his second stint with the Jets after the team traded for him back in March. Last season he played 15 games for the Raiders, throwing for 3,025 yards with 19 touchdowns and 17 interceptions. He also ran for 109 yards on 41 carries. Not exactly elite numbers, but solid enough for a veteran backup who knows the building.
This is Smith’s second go-round in New York. He was originally drafted by the Jets in 2013 and spent four seasons there before bouncing around the league. Now he’s back, hoping to settle in as a reliable presence behind center. Whether this investigation leaves any lingering questions with the league or the team remains to be seen, but for now, the legal side of things is officially stalled.
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