Manatee deputies in fatal shooting case return to duty

MANATEE -- Two deputies involved in a struggle that led to a man being shot to death by one of the deputies have returned to work as the investigation is taken over by the State Attorney�s Office, according to the Manatee County Sheriff�s Office.

Deputies Dino Murges and Matthew Schwartz have returned to duty after being placed on paid administrative leave after the shooting that left Randy Allen Smith, 34, dead, according to a news release.

Once the criminal investigation is completed by the State Attorney�s Office, the case will be returned to the sheriff�s office for a routine internal affairs investigation.

At about midnight on Nov. 19, Murges reported a suspicious vehicle in the area of the Winn Dixie store located on the southwest corner of 53rd Avenue East and Ninth Street East. Schwartz responded as back-up, and then both deputies approached the vehicle.

As they approached, Smith was asked to get out of the vehicle. He then became aggressive and wasn�t obeying commands, the deputies reported.

A struggle ensued as the deputies attempted to handcuff him, and Schwartz was hit in the head. Both deputies deployed their tasers but Smith continued to resist, according to the report. Deputies said Smith pulled a gun, and Murges shot him several times.

Smith, who was out of jail on bond after he was arrested June 4 on a drug possession charge, was taken to Manatee Memorial Hospital where he was pronounced dead.

His criminal history included convictions for resisting an officer without violence, cocaine possession, marijuana possession and possession of a firearm by a felon.

Jessica De Leon, Herald law enforcement reporter, can be reached at 941-747-7049. You can follow her on Twitter@JDeLeon1012.

This story was originally published December 4, 2015 at 7:34 PM with the headline "Manatee deputies in fatal shooting case return to duty ."