WASHINGTON (DC News Now) -- A former U.S. Capitol Police (USCP) officer was sentenced Monday for recklessly pursuing two motorcyclists in 2020, hitting one of them with his car and fleeing the scene. The U.S. Attorney's Office (USAO) said 47-year-old Thomas Smith will spend 21 months in prison for violating the motorcyclist's civil rights. Shortly after 11:30 p.m. on June 20, 2020, Smith was supposed to be conducting security checks at Congress members' homes in Georgetown when he began pursuing two motorcycles. USCP policies prohibit vehicular pursuits outside of the Capitol grounds unless there is an emergency or a supervisor approves the pursuit. Despite this, Smith conducted the pursuit without such approval, the USAO noted. PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Capitol Police officer indicted on civil rights charge According to court documents, he followed behind the motorcycles at a "high rate of speed" without his emergency lights on before swerving and hitting one of the cyclists. Smith caused the driver to crash, knocking him "into the air before he hit the asphalt roadway," court documents described. Smith swerved around the motorcyclist, who lay in the roadway, and fled the scene. USCP policies require officers to notify a dispatcher, supervisor and the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) if a crash occurs while on duty outside of Capitol grounds. At no point after crashing into the man's motorcycle did Smith notify anyone. He also did not take any action to get the driver medical help. The motorcyclist was hurt in the crash, suffering abrasions to his face, head, arms and knees, and a "possible concussion and seizure," according to court documents. After the collision, Smith tried hiding his involvement in and responsibility for the collision by swapping out the damaged USCP sedan with a USCP SUV. He logged a false entry into the USCP record system while doing so, marking that he conducted his required dignitary check and that it appeared secure. He also falsely logged that he had been assigned the SUV the whole evening and claimed he began his shift at 10 p.m., not 6 p.m. Election Day: DC Metrobus, rail detours in place When asked about the crash, Smith told a USCP Sergeant that he did not know there was a crash and had been driving the SUV the whole night. “This defendant recklessly pursued two motorcyclists, struck one of them with his car, left the victim unconscious on the asphalt, fled the scene and then switched out his cruiser and filed no report in an attempt to cover up his violent misconduct,” Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke said in a news release, in part. After serving his sentence, Smith will undergo 24 months of supervised release, 40 hours of community service and have to pay restitution of $4,455. He pleaded guilty on Oct. 18, 2023, to deprivation of rights under color of law.