Woman pleads guilty to assaulting officers

HAUSER — A woman accused of dragging a Kootenai County Sheriff’s deputy with her car has pleaded guilty to multiple felony charges.

Melinda M. Smith, 48, of Waitts Lake, Wash. pleaded guilty in accordance with Alford on Tuesday to eluding, battery upon an officer and aggravated assault upon an officer, all felonies.

By entering an Alford plea, Smith does not admit guilt but acknowledges there is enough evidence to convict her at trial.

The charges stem from June, when deputies responded to a report that 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, she reportedly took off.

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

The unidentified deputy was treated for minor injuries at Kootenai Health and released the same day.

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.

She reportedly rammed multiple patrol vehicles in an attempt to flee.

Police arrested Smith and charged her with eluding, battery upon an officer and two counts of aggravated assault.

She was also charged with resisting an officer and reckless driving.

As part of a plea deal, the state agreed to amend the charges and dismiss the misdemeanor offenses.

The aggravated assault charge refers to Smith driving her vehicle at two deputies, according to court documents.

The state will also recommend that Smith be placed in a prison treatment program, called a rider, for up to a year before the sentencing judge decides to either place her on probation or send her back to prison.

Smith is scheduled to be sentenced in February before First District Judge Cynthia Meyer.