Former MTV reality star Connor Smith has been arrested in Florida after evading police in Illinois for a year. The Pinellas County Sheriff helped in his arrest, and he is currently being held without bond. Smith, 33, had been on the run since February 2023 after being accused of chatting with a detective posing as an underage girl in a shopping mall parking lot for a sexual encounter.
Upon realizing that sheriff’s officers were approaching his pickup truck, Smith attempted to flee the scene by driving off at high speeds, leading to a pursuit by investigators. The Lake County Sheriff’s Office issued a nationwide warrant for his arrest on charges of grooming, traveling to meet a minor, and disseminating harmful material. Smith had engaged in communication, sent explicit photos of himself, and made plans to meet who he thought was an underage girl, which turned out to be an undercover detective.
Smith first gained realty show fame on season 3 of MTV’s Are You the One? in 2015. After leaving the show without finding a lasting relationship, he returned to Chicago to work on opening his own gym. Following the show, Smith expressed interest in appearing on more reality TV shows, such as The Challenge, and wanted to showcase his skills in competitive settings.
Authorities were able to locate and arrest Smith at an address in Clearwater, Florida, with the help of the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office. The reality star had been aware of the charges against him in Illinois, but continued to elude authorities until his arrest in March 2024. Smith’s actions led to charges of grooming, traveling to meet a minor, and disseminating harmful material.
Due to the seriousness of the crimes he was accused of, Smith was pursued by law enforcement in Illinois, resulting in a nationwide warrant being issued for his arrest. Despite his attempt to evade capture, Smith was ultimately taken into custody in Florida after a year on the run. The allegations against the reality star included engaging in inappropriate communication with someone he believed was an underage girl.
Smith’s arrest highlights the consequences of engaging in illegal activities, such as grooming and attempting to meet a minor for sexual activities. The former MTV reality star’s actions ultimately led to his capture by law enforcement in Florida, where he is currently being held without bond. Smith’s involvement in communicating lewd content to someone he believed was a minor ultimately resulted in serious criminal charges and a year-long evasion of arrest.
