Police chief arrested while off-duty at Champaign County Fair

CHAMPAIGN COUNTY — An area police chief was arrested at the Champaign County Fair Sunday.

On Sunday at around 6 p.m., deputies working at the Champaign County Fairgrounds were advised that Eric Smith, the St. Paris Police Chief, was open carrying a firearm with his police badge while off-duty, according to a spokesperson for the Champaign County Sheriff’s Office.

As reported on News Center 7 at 6, deputies located Smith and told him to return his firearm to his vehicle or to leave the fair, the spokesperson said.

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At approximately 6:18 p.m., deputies located Smith in the area of the rides/midway of the fairgrounds. His firearm and St. Paris police badge were clearly visible, the spokesperson said.

The spokesperson noted that Smith was not working nor did he have any jurisdiction at the Champaign County Fair.

Smith was told to return his firearm to his vehicle and to leave the fair.

Smith reportedly refused and said that he was not going to return his firearm to his vehicle and was going to continue carrying while at the fair. He was then advised that it was a direct order from Champaign County Sheriff Matthew Melvin that if Smith was not working as a law enforcement officer at the fair then his firearm needed to be returned to his vehicle. He refused again, the spokesperson said.

Shortly after, Smith was spotted by other deputies and was still openly carrying his firearm and his badge.

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Smith was then arrested and trespassed for the remainder of the fair, the spokesperson said.

He was transported to Tri-County Regional Jail and charged with obstructing official business and criminal trespass.

The arrest has people in the community talking.

“I just was shocked that it was a police officer,” said Melinda Price, owner of Old School Concessions.

Another vendor saw what happened and stated that she needs to hear both sides of the story.

“He seems like pretty good guy. So I can’t pass judgment on him without knowing the full story,” said Danielle Haro with La Granja Mexican Food Truck.

Haro lives in St. Paris, claiming to have seen Smith in her community often. She is still confused why the situation escalated to this.

“If his reply was belligerent, if his reply was non-negotiating, if his reply, you know, if it was aggressive, then yes, that’s concerning,” Haro said.

News Center 7 reached out to the Champaign County Sheriff’s Office and was told they will not speak at this time.

We will continue providing updates as we learn more.

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