POST FALLS — A security volunteer at Real Life Ministries in Post Falls is facing a battery charge for an alleged incident this past fall on church property.  

Darren Smiley, 49, was charged with battery Nov. 18, 2024, after stopping an unknown man roller skating through the Real Life Ministries parking lot in Post Falls.

Smiley, a retired Marine sergeant major, is a volunteer security officer for the church. At the time of the incident, Smiley and several other security guards were patrolling the grounds during a high school ministry night, tasked with the job to ensure safety of minors during church activities.  

The alleged incident has picked up traction over the past seven months, as organizations like Christian Warrior Training, an online resource for church security teams, shared YouTube videos and blog posts about Smiley and the incident.  

According to a probable cause affidavit, the alleged victim of the case told Post Falls law enforcement that he was on his way home and rode his skateboard through Real Life property. While on the property, the man indicates that he heard a woman talking to him, and then a male, but was unable to hear what they were saying because he was wearing headphones.  

Court documents indicate that he continued on his way through the property. In an alleged attempt to pass the individuals getting his attention, the victim notes that “a male who works at Real Life tackled” him off his skateboard. The victim said to law enforcement that he got up from the incident and was “angry,” to which he “threw a shopping cart to the ground before getting his sister.”  

Documents indicate that he refused any medical treatment but wished to press charges against Smiley.  

A probable cause affidavit indicates that Smiley and several other witnesses were interviewed after the victim, where all statements were similar to one another.   

Smiley told law enforcement that he heard a woman yelling toward the victim, to which Smiley shared it “usually means someone is trying to leave without permission.” Smiley shared that the victim was riding toward him, so he “put out his arm to get [him] to stop and he collided into his arm, falling off the skateboard.”  

Video footage of the incident was given to law enforcement and is currently circulating on the internet. 

A jury trial has been set for the matter on four separate occasions, where the last three were vacated for a variety of reasons. Smiley was expected to stand trial June 26 but is now scheduled to appear in court Oct. 14.