Vero Beach man accused of choking woman unconscious at birthday party

VERO BEACH — A 25-year-old Vero Beach man was arrested early Friday after deputies said he attacked several women at a birthday party, choking one until she lost consciousness and striking others with a frying pan.

Collin Smith faces charges of attempted murder, battery by strangulation, aggravated battery, possession of a weapon or ammunition by a convicted felon, criminal mischief, driving under the influence, driving with a suspended or revoked license, refusal to submit to a breath test and possession of drug paraphernalia, according to the Indian River County Sheriff’s Office.

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Deputies responded to a home in Vero Beach just before 2 a.m. on July 17 after receiving reports of a disturbance. Smith had left the residence before they arrived but later returned, according to the sheriff’s office.

Witnesses told deputies Smith became violent with three women at the party. One woman said he grabbed her by the hair, dragged her outside and threw her to the ground. A second woman said he punched her in the mouth, shoved her against a vehicle and held her by the neck.

Jessica Powers said Smith ripped out a chunk of her hair, dragged her through the house, choked her until she lost consciousness and got on top of her in a hallway. A man at the party pulled Smith off her, she told deputies. Officers noted redness on her neck, a hoarse voice and a patch of hair on the floor.

Powers also told deputies Smith grabbed a frying pan and began hitting people at the party. A neighbor reported seeing a shirtless man pick up a woman and slam her to the ground before yelling for someone to call 911.

Later, deputies found Smith driving a pickup truck and pulled him over. He admitted he was driving with a revoked license and had been drinking, but denied attacking anyone.

During the investigation, deputies found a handgun that had been thrown from the vehicle, along with a digital scale, white powder, plastic baggies and glass smoking paraphernalia. He refused field sobriety exercises and chemical testing.

Smith was booked into the Indian River County Jail and held on a $250,000 bond.