A Lawrenceville woman who allegedly spit on a police officer’s face was charged with 10 offenses on May 6.
At 8:40 p.m. Officer Mark Panzano was on a traffic enforcement detail on Carter Road when he saw a 2001 Volkswagen traveling at an alleged 66 miles an hour in a 45 mile an hour zone.
The officer tried to signal the driver to stop by activating emergency lights and sirens. The driver increased her speed to about 80 mph, police said, and the chase continued about two miles before the vehicle stopped in the roadway.
Officer Panzano said he smelled the odor of alcohol on the driver, who was identified as Marilyn D. Ofner, 59, of Jasmine Court, Lawrenceville. After giving her roadside sobriety testing, Officer Panzano and backup Officer William Gaskill tried to handcuff Ms. Ofner. Police said she physically resisted, struggling with the officers briefly before being placed in custody.
When Officer Panzano went to put a seatbelt on Ms. Ofner in the rear of his patrol car, she spit in his face, police said.
She was taken to headquarters, where she was charged with eluding in a motor vehicle, aggravated assault by throwing bodily fluids, resisting arrest, DWI, reckless driving, careless driving, speeding, improper passing, unsafe lane change and failure to exhibit documents. She was released to a friend.
Her case will be forwarded to the Mercer County Prosecutor’s Office.
