A 52-year-old woman is accused of assaulting a sheriff's deputy after she was allegedly found inside her vehicle in a ditch in Toledo on Jan. 14.
Sharon P. Weltzien — who was suspected of driving under the influence after she “performed poorly” on field sobriety tests — allegedly resisted arrest and struck a responding Lewis County Sheriff’s deputy in the arm “with a hammer motion,” according to court documents.
The deputy and another deputy “used controlled defensive tactics to gain control of Weltzien,” court documents state. The deputies reportedly took her to the ground and handcuffed her.
After gaining consent to enter Weltzien’s vehicle, one of the deputies allegedly collected a box of wine “with a twist-off lid on the driver's side floorboard,” according to court documents.
The deputy also allegedly found another box of wine in the ditch near the vehicle.
During the defendant’s preliminary hearing in Lewis County Superior Court, Senior Deputy Prosecutor Scott Jackson referenced a prior DUI conviction in Oregon and questioned what exactly Weltzien’s ties were to the state of Washington.
Weltzien’s charging information lists a Centralia address. Defense attorney Rachael Tiller said she resided locally, though at one point Weltzien — who appeared virtually from the Lewis County Jail — appeared to dispute that.
Concerning the DUI allegation, Tiller indicated the state might face issues, since they did not yet have the test results from the blood draw. She added that no one saw Weltzien driving during the incident, and suggested there may have been “consumption after the fact.”
Weltzien is officially charged with one count each of third-degree assault, driving under the influence and resisting arrest.
Judge Joely Yeager set Weltzien’s bail at $10,000 cash or bond, in agreement with the state’s request, and set an arraignment for Jan. 15.
Yeager ordered the defendant to equip an alcohol monitoring device known as a SCRAM prior to her release from custody, and prohibited her from driving, consuming or possessing alcohol or controlled substances (without a prescription) and visiting bars or taverns.
