Woman pleads not guilty to dragging deputy

HAUSER — A woman accused of dragging a Kootenai County Sheriff’s deputy with her car will face a jury trial in October.

Melinda M. Smith, 48, of Spokane Valley, is charged with eluding, battery upon an officer and two counts of aggravated assault, all felonies.

She is also charged with resisting an officer and four counts of reckless driving, all misdemeanors.

She pleaded not guilty to all charges Thursday.

The charges stem from June 23, when deputies responded to a report that a woman, later identified as Smith, was slumped over in the driver’s seat of a car parked in the middle of an intersection.

Smith reportedly told deputies she had stopped in the middle of the road due to shoulder pain.

She was released from the scene after medical personnel determined she was not in need of treatment.

Police said her driving was erratic and she soon pulled over.

When a deputy contacted her again, Smith allegedly took off, with the deputy holding onto the driver’s side window.

Smith’s car dragged the deputy more than 50 feet before he let go of the window and ran back to his own vehicle, reports said.

Kootenai County Sheriff’s deputies said they pursued Smith at speeds exceeding 70 mph.

Smith pulled into the boat check station on Highway 53 at a high rate of speed, where she was boxed in with the assistance of a Spokane County deputy sheriff, according to court documents.

Smith allegedly rammed multiple patrol vehicles in an attempt to flee.

Kootenai County Sheriff Bob Norris told The Press that the unidentified deputy was treated for minor injuries at Kootenai Health and released the same day.

Smith has no prior felony convictions.

Her attorney said in court Thursday that Smith has “significant health issues,” which may have contributed to the incident.

Judge Cynthia Meyer denied a motion to release Smith on her own recognizance or lower her bond from $200,000.

A three-day jury trial in the case is scheduled to begin Oct. 4.