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Suspected DUI driver charged with assaulting Bellevue police officers

BELLEVUE, Wash. — A 23-year-old woman was charged in King County Superior Court with assaulting a law enforcement officer and driving while under the influence.

The incident is alleged to have happened around 9:30 p.m. on May 11 in Bellevue.

In charging documents, police said they responded to the intersection of Coal Creek Parkway Southeast and Forest Drive Southeast after witnesses reported seeing two sports cars collide.

Arriving officers said they found Sophia Pearson, 23, sitting on the sidewalk. Her 2007 red Nissan 350z was in the street with extensive damage and flattened tires.

Pearson had red and bloodshot eyes, her pupils were constricted and she was breathing at a fast rate, police said.

In describing the crash, police said Pearson did not make sense. She later told police she was going to visit a friend in Newcastle.

When an officer on the scene put a flashlight near Pearson’s eyes, she started yelling and screaming, according to police.

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Medics then arrived on the scene to attempt to calm Pearson down.

While Pearson was with the medics, police looked inside her vehicle and saw containers of marijuana that they said could have been easily reached by the driver.

Firefighters on the scene said Pearson continued to become aggressive and attempted to leave the ambulance she was in.

Police said they then attempted to take Pearson into custody for fear that she would leave the scene.

A struggle ensued and Pearson punched an officer above his right eyebrow before punching another officer on the right side of his jaw, according to charging documents.

Officers continued to struggle with Pearson before ultimately arresting her for third-degree assault.

When talking with Pearson in the back of the patrol car, police said they could smell a strong odor of intoxicants coming from her breath.

Pearson was transported to Overlake Medical Hospital and officers said they applied for a blood search warrant.

Police said Pearson admitted to drinking two vodka cranberries around 5:30 p.m. and said she smoked marijuana earlier in the evening.

Pearson’s blood test was completed around 1:20 a.m. May 12, about four hours after the crash, and was submitted to the WSP Toxicology Laboratory for testing.

Pearson was then transported to the King County Jail on suspicion of two counts of third-degree assault and driving under the influence.

Her arraignment, where she will enter a plea, is expected later this year.

Pearson has previous convictions for second-degree assault and second-degree arson, court documents show.