Woman accused of drunk driving, yelling at police, medical staff

JONESBORO, Ark. (KAIT) - Jonesboro police arrested a woman they said hit another vehicle while driving under the influence and yelled at police and medical staff following the incident.

On Sunday, April 14, 41-year-old Kristi Willis, of Hardy, was issued citations for reckless driving, third-degree DWI, no lights at night, driving left of the center lane, disorderly conduct, second-degree criminal mischief, and possession of an open container.

According to the incident report, on Saturday, April 13, dispatch received a call about a red pickup truck driving hazardously on Race Street near Red Wolf Boulevard.

The caller told dispatch the truck turned into a parking lot near the Race Street and Caraway Road intersection.

The report stated Willis got out of the vehicle and was lying on the ground, with a man said to have been in the passenger seat.

Dispatch then reported the vehicle left the parking lot and turned north onto Caraway Road, crossed onto the opposite southbound lane, and struck a gray vehicle head-on.

Upon arrival, officers began giving aid to the occupants of the gray car, who were later airlifted due to injuries.

The report went on to say officers went to the truck and found the male passenger with blood on his head and arm sitting on the ground near the truck. Willis was also near the truck but with no blood.

Officers asked Willis what happened, but said they could not understand her due to her slurred speech. They also noted she had bloodshot eyes and smelled of intoxicants.

Officers asked if she had any alcohol to drink or had taken any pills, but she said no. Willis did mention that there were sleeping pills in the truck, and officers found a half bottle of whiskey in the truck, the report stated.

The male passenger told police he and Willis had been drinking for several hours before the crash, with Willis drinking more than the male did.

The report stated that while police were gathering information at the scene, Willis began yelling and cursing at the officers while a large group of people were standing around.

The male passenger told Willis to stop, but she continued. Officers soon arrested Willis and took her to St. Bernards Medical Center for a blood draw. A warrant was signed by District Judge David Boling for Willis’ blood.

Police said while Willis was at the hospital, she was “extremely irate and violent with officers and staff.” Even when restrained, she continued to yell and thrash, damaging medical equipment in the process and even attempting to spit at staff several times.

The blood draw was eventually started after staff were able to sedate Willis, according to the report.

Willis was taken to the Craighead County Detention Center on April 14 following her stay at the hospital.

According to the same report, after the crash happened on April 13, 31-year-old Demarco James, Jonesboro, drove to the scene “in a highly dangerous and erratic manner.”

James explained to officers the victims in the gray car were his son and the child’s mother, but an officer responded that regardless of the circumstances, he could not drive with such disregard for safety.

The report said the officer ran James’ ID and found he had a felony warrant through the Craighead County Sheriff’s Office for filing a false police report.

James was cited and released for reckless driving, careless and prohibited driving, and improper lane change.

Both Willis and James are scheduled to appear in court on Monday, June 3.

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