A Pennsylvania man already facing charges for allegedly attacking his girlfriend at an East Lansdowne gas station has now been accused of harassing her from behind bars, calling the woman 242 times in violation of a court order prohibiting contact, authorities said.
Background
The underlying incident occurred late in the morning inside and outside an Exxon station on Baltimore Avenue in East Lansdowne, a small borough in the Philadelphia metro area. Officers responded to a call from a woman who claimed her boyfriend had repeatedly attacked her, according to the East Landsdowne Police Department.
When police arrived at the scene, Khabir Smith was still present and detained. Investigators reviewed surveillance footage from the gas station, which they say captured the attack in its entirety.
On the security video, the woman is seen standing at the checkout counter when Smith enters and "immediately" begins "assaulting her on the head, face [and] body," police said in a press release. "The female fled the store and was again assaulted."
According to law enforcement, the victim broke free momentarily but was chased down outside. After catching hold of her, Smith allegedly "dragged her across the parking lot" and forced her inside his vehicle.
The woman is then seen in the video getting out of Smith's car and trying to find refuge in a stranger's vehicle when the defendant pursued her again, pulled her from that second car, and put her back into his own vehicle, authorities said. Police arrived shortly thereafter.
The Investigation
Smith was arrested in April on charges including simple assault, attempted kidnapping, unlawful restraint, and reckless endangerment. He was initially able to post bail but was rearrested in July on unrelated weapons and theft charges, according to law enforcement.
It was during this second incarceration that authorities allege Smith made the 242 phone calls to his girlfriend from the first case.
Delaware County Prosecutor Amy Cappelli told a judge she discovered the alleged violations while reviewing case materials. The calls were placed through a recorded jailhouse phone line since April, in violation of a no-contact order.
In one recorded call, according to Cappelli, Smith threatened the woman against testifying against him while simultaneously instructing her to collect money from people who owed him. He allegedly told her that if he makes bail before those debts are paid, "they're going to find out what he's about."
Smith now faces additional charges of disorderly conduct and harassment stemming from the alleged calls.
A judge ultimately increased Smith's bail rather than revoking it entirely. He must now post $20,000 for release from pretrial detention due to the phone call allegations, plus an additional $10,000 bail assessed for the July gun and theft case. The court also ordered Smith to have absolutely no contact with the victim as the case progresses.
Defense attorney Joseph DeSando told the judge his client had not contacted the woman recently and already could not afford the current bail amount. He said he personally warned Smith to stop calling after the issue was brought to his attention.
Key Takeaways
- Khabir Smith, 25, faces charges including simple assault, attempted kidnapping, unlawful restraint, and reckless endangerment stemming from an alleged attack at an East Lansdowne Exxon station
- Authorities allege he made 242 phone calls to the victim through a recorded jailhouse line in violation of a no-contact order
- The defendant was rearrested in July on unrelated weapons and theft charges while out on bail for the assault case
- His bail has been increased to $20,000 plus an additional $10,000; he would need to post 10% ($3,000) to secure release
What's Next
Smith is next slated to appear in court on September 22. The judge ordered him to have no contact with the victim whatsoever as both cases proceed through the Delaware County court system.