Franklin County prosecutors have added assault charges to a Pennsylvania woman's drunk driving arrest after the defendant allegedly kicked, head-butted, and spit in the face of an arresting officer. Now, the defendant is facing two counts of aggravated assault and disorderly conduct, in addition to driving under the influence and driving with a suspended license.

The incident began when two Pennsylvania State Police troopers noticed the defendant allegedly weaving and driving erratically through Chambersburg. According to police reports, the defendant's left-turn signal was blinking for several blocks although she did not turn, she was driving in a parking lane, and she eventually turned and ran her Jeep into a curb.

When the troopers turned on their lights and sirens, the defendant stopped and exited her vehicle. She allegedly smelled of alcohol, had trouble walking, and told the arresting officer that she was drunk. After failing two field sobriety tests, she was arrested and taken to Chambersburg Hospital for a blood alcohol test.

Upon entering the hospital, the officers claim, she became angry, kicking over several signs and spitting in an officer's face. After deciding to forgo the blood test, police reportedly took the defendant to their patrol car. There, the officers claim, the defendant refused to get in the police vehicle and became violent, kicking one officer in the groin and head-butting the other in the mouth. Neither suffered lasting injuries. However, the defendant now faces a much greater criminal sentence if she is convicted of the additional assault crimes.

Source: Public Opinion, "Greencastle woman accused of attacking troopers," Jim Tuttle, 22 June 2011