A Connecticut State Police trooper has been arrested for the second time in less than a year after police said he violated a protective order.
The Southington Police Department said state police Sergeant Gregory Smith, of East Haddam, turned himself in on Friday after learning there was a warrant for his arrest.
Officers said the warrant charged Smith, 43, with two counts of violation of a protective order.
The warrant stems from an incident where Smith went to a victim's apartment complex on December 24, 2019, to speak with him or her, police said.
At the time of the incident, authorities said an active protective order prohibited him from being at the victim's home.
On January 11, 2020, investigators said Smith sent the victim a text message, which also violated the protective order.
The incidents were reported to Southington Police Department on Tuesday, January 21, 2020.
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According to state police, Smith had been placed on administrative suspension without police powers since his previous arrest.
Smith was previously arrested by state police on July 12, 2019, in connection with a domestic violence incident.
As a result of Friday's arrest and the seriousness of the employee’s alleged conduct, Smith has been placed on a leave of absence, a state police representative said.
A separate internal affairs investigation has been initiated.
