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Warrant Out in Lansing Beating Death Case

Posted: 3:38 PM Apr 12, 2012
Reporter: Sherene Tagharobi

Warrant Out in Lansing Beating Death Case

Austin Smith is charged with "involuntary manslaughter" in the beating death of 30-year-old Travis Peterson. The prosecutor has charged a second person with involuntary manslaughter as well, but he has not been formally charged in court.

"There are a number of witnesses," said Ingham County prosecutor Stuart Dunnings III. "Remember, this is New year's Eve, so that's a factor."

At the time, Smith was a bouncer at Brannigan Brothers in downtown Lansing. Peterson died after never recovering from injuries he got during a fight that started there. We asked Dunnings why this has taken four and a half months.

"Some cases you're trying to weed out what the facts are, other cases you might have legal problems, legal issues. In this case, we had both we had to work through," he said.

Plus, Dunnings didn't get toxicology reports until weeks ago.

"I know some people are probably questioning why manslaughter and not murder, and there's factual reasons why it was charged the way it was," Dunnings said.

A Brannigan Brothers employee tells us the bar has since replaced the entire staff. And two doors down, at Tavern on the Square, the manager says Tavern bouncers don't get physical unless a patron does first.

"Although this is a very tragic event, it isn't one ultimately that's the responsibility of my client," said Andrew Abood, Smith's attorney.

Abood says the claims against him have no merit.

Dunnings doesn't want to lose sight of the victim.

"This is about a family that lost a person, and it's tragic," he said.

We also learned Thursday that Smith was an unpaid reserve officer with the Lake Odessa Police Department from February to October 2011.

According to Police Chief Mark Bender, Smith was dismissed after getting a speeding ticket in Eaton County last year.

Smith is expected back in court next Tuesday.