Washington woman charged with dragging deputy

HAUSER — A Kootenai County Sheriff’s deputy is recovering from minor injuries after police said a Washington driver dragged him with her vehicle.

Melinda M. Smith, 48, of Waitts Lake, Wash., is charged with battery on a peace officer, two counts of assault on a peace officer, resisting and obstructing, eluding and four counts of reckless driving.

Deputies responded around 12:15 p.m. Wednesday 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 the intersection of North Beck Road and West Prairie Avenue in Hauser.

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.

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, police said.

Kootenai County Sheriff’s deputies reportedly pursued the woman at speeds exceeding 70 mph.

Smith reportedly 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.

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

Two small dogs were inside Smith’s vehicle at the time of incident. Both animals are in the care of Kootenai County Animal Control.

Kootenai County Sheriff Bob Norris said Wednesday that the unidentified deputy was being treated for minor injuries at Kootenai Health and released.