A Platte City officer is recovering after a 29-year-old woman attempted to flee while the officer was turning off the ignition switch in the motor vehicle.
At about 5:05 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 16, police say Danielle Edwards of Platte City was found unconscious and slumped over the steering wheel of a blue Toyota SUV parked outside of Walgreens. The vehicle was running and pulled up over the curb, according to court documents.
When Officer Robert Newman arrived at the scene, Edwards had regained consciousness and was trying to reverse the motor vehicle. Newman knocked on the window multiple times and ordered Edwards to shut off the vehicle. According to the allegations, Edwards failed to obey the officer’s orders, prompting him to open the unlocked driver’s side door and reach inside to turn off the ignition switch.
According to court documents, Edwards hit the gas to flee while the police officer’s arm was partially inside the vehicle.
Edwards continued to flee, traveling west on Platte Falls Road to Kentucky Ave., where she drove through the heavily occupied parking lot at McDonalds. Edwards attempted to elude police by traveling west on Branch Street to the Northland Career Center. She then continued down a steep ravine, damaging her vehicle and causing it to stall.
When police took Edwards into custody, they say they detected a strong odor of alcohol on her breath.
Edwards allegedly had slurred speech and appeared unable to stand on her own. Officer Newman was taken to an area hospital, where he is being treated for a shoulder injury.
The Platte County Prosecutor’s Office has charged Danielle Edwards with three misdemeanors, including assault, resisting or interfering with an arrest and driving while intoxicated.
Platte County Associate Circuit Court Judge Ann Hansbrough set bond for Edwards at $20,000 cash or surety. A condition of bond is to wear an alcohol monitoring device.