Former CCSO deputy murdered, Nov. 30; suspect arrested by MCSO
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Wed - December 1, 2021
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Left: murder victim Steve Smolensky. Right: suspect Steven Alan Swearingen.
Marion County, Florida - On Nov. 30, officials from the Marion County Sheriff's Office (MCSO) arrested 38 year-old Steven Alan Swearingen, of Weirsdale, Florida, for the murder, the same day, of Steve Smolensky, 52, a retired deputy who served 25 years with the Citrus County Sheriff's Office.
Around 9:45 am, MCSO deputies responded to a residence located at 15055 SE 180th St. in Weirsdale, due to the report of a shooting. Deputies arrived at the residence to find Mr. Smolensky deceased; he'd suffered numerous gunshot wounds.
The investigation revealed that Mr. Smolensky had gone to the location to deliver propane for his employer, Suburban Propane (Wildwood, Florida). While he was at the residence, Mr. Smolensky was confronted by Swearingen, who was armed with a pistol and held him at gunpoint, refusing to let him leave the location or return to his propane truck. Eventually, Swearingen shot the victim multiple times.
Swearingen was taken into custody and transported to the Criminal Investigations Division for questioning. According to the MCSO, Swearingen told detectives that he believed that Mr. Smolensky was at the residence to “fill the home with propane” so he retrieved a handgun and confronted the victim regarding his presence at the residence. Swearingen told interviewers that the victim told him he was there to fill the propane tank. Swearingen also stated, that when the victim attempted to return to his propane truck, he held him at gunpoint and would not allow him to move. Swearingen admitted that he'd shot the victim multiple times.
Swearingen is a convicted felon with an extensive criminal history, including convictions for crimes involving violence toward law enforcement personnel.
At the conclusion of the interview, Swearingen was placed under arrest and transported to the Marion County Jail in Ocala, Florida, charged with second degree murder, possession of a firearm by a convicted Florida felon, and false imprisonment. His bond was set at none.
Citrus County Sheriff Mike Prendergast released a statement regarding this crims, "It is with a heavy heart and great sadness that I inform our community of the murder of retired CCSO Deputy Sheriff Steve Smolensky," he said. "Steve was a member of our family from June 1992 to June 2017. He served in many divisions, and upon retirement, was in the Judicial and Juvenile Services Division. During his twenty-five year tenure, he received multiple commendations, including service awards, a judicial services unit citation, perfect attendance awards, and letters of commendation that include professionalism, kindness, and caring. We would like to commend our counterparts there at MCSO for quickly apprehending this suspect before another tragedy unfolded. We will keep the Smolensky family in our thoughts and prayers as we respect their privacy at this time. Thank you."
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