A Spokane woman faces felony assault and DUI charges after police released video appearing to show a driver chasing a child on a dirt bike across residential sidewalks in Cheney, Washington.
The video, released Monday by the Spokane County Sheriff’s Office, shows a silver Ford Focus apparently pursuing the child along the 7500 block of South Fruitvale Road at approximately 6:05 p.m. on April 28.
In the video, the vehicle appear to narrowly miss a fire hydrant and several bushes as it drives over curbs and across lawns in what deputies described as an attempt to hit the child. Neighbors are seen attempting to intervene and recording the incident on their phones before the driver appears to veer back onto the roadway and leaves the area.
Prior to the alleged chase, the child is seen maneuvering away from the car. The driver, identified by officials as 56-year-old Wendy A. Clemente, is accused of stopping the vehicle to yell at the child. The child appeared to respond before turning away, at which point the driver appears to start the pursuit. The child was not hit or injured during the encounter.
At approximately 6:30 p.m., while deputies were at the first scene, they were notified of a reported residential burglary about a mile away on West Melville Road, according to police.
A homeowner who was not at the residence told authorities they had been watching a suspect on a live security system trying door handles. Deputies arrived at the second location and found Clemente and the silver Ford Focus parked in the victim’s driveway, police said in a written statement.
Clemente was advised of her rights and agreed to answer questions, police said. She said she “took her dog for a ride” and was “looking for other dogs to socialize with,” according to police. It’s alleged she told deputies she had stopped at the property because she saw dogs in a fenced yard, though she admitted she did not know the homeowner.
Clemente is also accused of telling police she did not remember any incident on South Fruitvale Road and denied attempting to enter the residence on West Melville Road.
Deputies said Clemente showed signs of impairment. She initially denied consuming any substances but later said she had been drinking alcohol, according to a police statement.
Investigators were granted a search warrant to obtain a sample of Clemente’s blood for testing. She was booked into the Spokane County Jail on charges of first-degree attempted assault, DUI and first-degree criminal trespass.
The following day, Spokane County Superior Court Commissioner N. Swennumson ordered that Clemente be released on her own recognizance without needing to post bond.
No injuries were reported as a result of the alleged incidents.
The Independent has reached out to the Spokane County Sheriff’s Office for more information. It is not clear if Clemente has obtained legal representation.
