12/1/2009 10:00:00 PM
Wild pursuit ends in arrest in Cornville
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By LISA IRISH
Yavapai County sheriff's deputies arrested a woman Thursday on several charges including aggravated assault after she allegedly rammed through a gate with her car and nearly struck people on horseback.
Deputies booked Laura Knight, 47, of Sedona, into the Camp Verde jail on charges of aggravated assault on law enforcement, aggravated assault, felony flight, criminal damage, criminal trespass and three counts of endangerment.
Knight remains in custody on a $15,000 bond, said Dwight D'Evelyn, media and crime prevention coordinator for the Yavapai County Sheriff's Office. Knight is due in court on Thursday.
At 10 a.m. this past Thursday, sheriff's deputies responded to a criminal trespass in progress in the 11000 block of Frey Ranch Road in Cornville. When deputies arrived, the property owners pointed to a maroon Honda Element in their field and told deputies the driver had stopped in front of a gate to their horse pasture and asked them to open the gate. They said they refused, telling her to leave their private property, D'Evelyn said.
"The residents did not know her. She showed up unannounced and asked to drive in their horse pasture," D'Evelyn said.
The woman drove away from the gate, but returned shortly and rammed the gate open with her vehicle, nearly striking the residents and their horses, D'Evelyn said. The residents called the sheriff's office immediately, he added.
As deputies approached the vehicle in the pasture, Knight allegedly started to drive directly toward a deputy who took cover behind a fence to avoid being struck, D'Evelyn said. As the vehicle moved around the pasture, the deputy spoke to Knight whose responses were incoherent, he said.
Knight refused to stop the vehicle, drove away from the deputy, allegedly struck a horse and exited the pasture through the gate she had rammed open earlier and headed north on Page Springs Road, D'Evelyn said.
"The property owners had no injuries. The horse was looked at and is going to be fine," D'Evelyn said.
A pursuit followed. When Knight reached Highway 89A, her vehicle struck police "stop sticks," deflating at least one of her tires, then stopped within a few hundred feet, according to reports.
When deputies approached Knight on foot, she reversed her vehicle, nearly hitting them, D'Evelyn said. As Knight drove slowly forward, a deputy fired a Taser dart and struck Knight, he said. The vehicle stopped, Knight exited and deputies eventually overpowered her and handcuffed her.
"No deputies were struck," D'Evelyn said. "There was a potential for risk when the deputy shot the Taser dart at her, but the deputy took that opportunity to stop her."
Emergency medical services examined Knight, and deputies booked her into the Camp Verde jail.
The cause of Knight's behavior remains under review, D'Evelyn said. Deputies noted no immediate evidence of narcotics or alcohol, he said.
"There were no indications of medical issues or DUI concerns," D'Evelyn said.
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Posted: Thursday, December 03, 2009
Article comment by:
Smitty
Nope Dave! No help needed just keep them weirdos in the State of Fruits and Nuts. They seemed to have done an outstanding job in running it down the tubes.Just ask Der Gubernator Vots Vot.
Posted: Wednesday, December 02, 2009
Article comment by:
Dave
Sounds like Smitty needs help as well.
Posted: Wednesday, December 02, 2009
Article comment by:
GOOD KNIGHT!
Sounds like "contempt of cop" to me. Thank the good Lord no deputies or civilians were hurt. Hope the critter is ok, and hope Ms Knight gets help!
Posted: Wednesday, December 02, 2009
Article comment by:
I kid...
From Sedona, driving a Honda, obviously mentally ill... Definately an Obama-supporter. Seriously though, I hope she gets some help.
Posted: Wednesday, December 02, 2009
Article comment by:
Smitty
Thats them Sedona folks! real special! Bet she came from California the entitlement State.
Posted: Wednesday, December 02, 2009
Article comment by:
Dave
A very unhappy lady. Hope she finds peace.
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