An Ocala woman who tried to interfere with a DUI investigation was arrested after she allegedly fought with deputies who were trying to keep her away.
Stephanie N. Gonzalez, 29, of 1743 NE 7th Ave., was charged with two counts of battery on a law-enforcement officer and a single count of resisting an officer with violence. Marion County Jail records show she was previously arrested in June on a criminal mischief charge.
Marion County sheriff’s deputies were conducting a DUI investigation Friday night at 7578 SE Maricamp Road when Gonzalez, who was not involved in the case, walked toward the scene from the west side of the parking lot. While the 2011 Nissan Murano was being towed as part of the investigation, Gonzalez ignored several verbal commands to not go near the vehicle, according to the sheriff’s office report.
Gonzalez became irate and took it upon herself to walk around three deputies. When two of them grabbed her to place her under arrest, Gonzalez used her shoulders to push them away. She was taken to the ground, where she refused to listen to verbal commands and give the deputies her hands. Once Gonzalez was placed into handcuffs, she was escorted to patrol car, the report said.
While being taken to the patrol car, Gonzalez wrapped her legs around a deputy’s legs and dropped to the ground, bringing the deputy down with her. She refused to get into the car and a deputy had to push her by her hips to get her inside the vehicle. Once inside, Gonzalez started kicking the windows and partition and refused to stop, according to the report.
Gonzalez was placed in a hobble device to keep her from kicking the inside of the vehicle. Se refused to place her feet in the floorboard of the vehicle and wouldn’t allow deputies to put them in the proper position. Gonzalez continued to kick at deputies and resist by pulling her feet away, the report said.
Deputies were unsuccessful in getting Gonzalez into a total appendage restraint before effectively putting her into the hobble. Gonzalez was taken to the Marion County Jail, where she was released Sunday on $12,000 bond.