Ex-MTV reality star Connor Smith was arrested in Florida after evading police in Illinois for a year. The Pinellas County Sheriff helped capture Smith on March 28, and he is being held without bond. Smith had been on the run since February 2023 after being accused of chatting with a detective posing as an underage girl. He allegedly drove to a shopping mall parking lot to meet the girl for a sexual encounter, but fled when he saw sheriff’s officers approaching his truck. The Lake County Sheriff’s Office issued a nationwide warrant for Smith’s arrest on charges of grooming, traveling to meet a minor, and disseminating harmful material.
Smith was arrested by the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office at an address in Clearwater, Florida. He had appeared on season 3 of MTV’s Are You the One? in 2015 but left filming to work on opening his own gym in Chicago. Despite not finding a lasting relationship on the show, Smith expressed interest in doing more reality TV in the future. He had even expressed a desire to participate in MTV’s The Challenge, stating that he would love to show them what’s up. However, he now faces serious charges in Illinois related to his alleged actions involving the undercover detective posing as an underage girl.
The Lake County Sheriff’s Office had been investigating Smith’s alleged online conversations with the undercover detective. Smith continued to communicate with the person he thought was an underage girl, eventually sending lewd photos of himself and arranging to meet for a sexual relationship. When Sheriff’s officers approached him in the parking lot, Smith attempted to evade arrest by driving off at high speeds, putting himself and others at risk. The arrest warrant issued for Smith included charges of grooming, traveling to meet a minor, and disseminating harmful material.
Smith’s past as a reality TV personality on MTV’s Are You the One? may have played a role in the attention surrounding his arrest. His brief stint on the show in 2015 was followed by a return to his hometown in Chicago to pursue his gym venture. While he had expressed interest in potential future reality TV opportunities, it is unlikely that such opportunities will materialize given his current legal situation. The charges he faces in Illinois are serious and involve allegations of inappropriate communication and attempted physical contact with an individual he believed to be a minor.
The details surrounding Smith’s arrest in Florida shed light on the serious nature of his alleged actions and the efforts made by law enforcement to bring him to justice. His attempt to avoid arrest by fleeing the scene and driving at dangerous speeds show a disregard for the safety of others and a lack of compliance with law enforcement. While Smith’s time on reality TV may have brought him some attention, it is his current legal troubles that are now making headlines. The consequences of his actions will now have to be faced as he remains in custody awaiting further legal proceedings.
