Vero Beach man accused of choking woman unconscious, attacking others at birthday party

A 25-year-old Vero Beach man is accused of choking a woman unconscious and attacking two other women during a birthday party before deputies arrested him, investigators said.

According to the Indian River County Sheriff's Office, deputies responded just before 2 a.m. on July 17 to a home along 86th Drive for reports of a disturbance in progress.

Investigators say the suspect, Collin Smith, left the home before deputies arrived but returned during the incident, where witnesses accused him of being violent with three women.

Jessica Powers, one of the victims, told CBS12 what was supposed to be a celebration for her friend's birthday turned violent.

"It was my best friend's birthday," Powers said. "We had a cake and minimal drinks."

Powers said Smith showed up to the party uninvited and became upset when no one would drive him to a bar.

According to the arrest affidavit, one woman told deputies Smith grabbed her by the hair, dragged her outside, and threw her to the ground. A second woman said Smith punched her in the mouth, shoved her against a vehicle, and held her by the neck.

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Powers told deputies Smith ripped out a chunk of her hair and dragged her through the home before he allegedly choked her until she lost consciousness.

"Eventually he dragged me out in the hallway, got on top of me and choked me. I lost consciousness," Powers said.

She told investigators a man at the party had to pull Smith off of her, adding she believed the attack would have continued if he had not intervened.

"Honestly, if it wasn't for him, I probably would be dead," Powers said.

Deputies reported observing redness on her neck, a hoarse voice, and a patch of hair on the floor that she said had been pulled from her head.

Powers said Smith grabbed a frying pan and began attacking others at the party.

"He found some sort of frying pan and started hitting everybody with it," she said.

A neighbor also told deputies that they saw a shirtless man pick up a woman and slam her to the ground before yelling for someone to call 911, according to the criminal probable cause affidavit.

Neighbors who heard the disturbance called 911.

Jackie Murphy, who moved in next door just a couple weeks ago, described the incident as "a living nightmare."

"It's definitely scary to know that's happening right next door, especially any abuse to women near a baby," Murphy said. "I have a 1-year-old daughter. It's nuts."

Another neighbor said he saw the police from his bedroom window early Friday morning. He said incidents like this are unusual in the area.

"Things don't usually happen like that in this area," the neighbor said.

Deputies say they later located Smith driving a pickup truck and conducted a traffic stop.

The sheriff's office said Smith admitted he was driving with a revoked license and had been drinking but denied assaulting anyone. Deputies said he refused field sobriety exercises and multiple requests for chemical testing.

During an investigation, deputies reportedly found out a handgun was thrown from the vehicle along with a digital scale, white powder, plastic baggies, and glass smoking paraphernalia.

Powers said she's trying to recover from the alleged attack but is now facing threats on social media.

"The victim blaming is disgusting and it's really sick," Powers said. "I'm not a bad person. I didn't deserve this. None of us deserved this."

Smith was subsequently booked into Indian County Jail for attempted murder and counts of battery by strangulation, aggravated battery, possession of a weapon or ammunition by a convicted felon, criminal mischief, driving under the influence (DUI), driving with a suspended or revoked license, refusal to submit to a breath alcohol test, and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Smith is being held on a $250,000 bond.