Woman Charged with 3rd DUI after Pursuit

On July 6th, at approximately 9:42 pm, a Daviess County Sheriff’s Office patrol deputy conducted a traffic stop after he observed black 2009 Mercury Milan run a stop sign at Worthington and West 5 th Street Roads. The vehicle continued a short distance with the deputy behind it with emergency equipment activated before eventually coming to a stop on West 5 th Street Road. Upon contacting the driver of the vehicle, the deputy noticed signs of impairment including bloodshot eyes and constricted pupils. The driver stated she did not have any identification on her and as the deputy began to return to his vehicle to conduct a records check the driver put her vehicle in drive and rapidly accelerated away. The deputy then initiated a vehicle pursuit. The suspect fled east on West 5 th Street Road toward Owensboro and turned north on to Green Briar Street and stopped her vehicle in the 700 block. She then exited the vehicle and attempted to flee on foot. The deputy caught up with her in the front yard of a residence that ended up being the suspect’s home and tackled her to the ground where she continued to fight and resist but was quickly brought under control and arrested. The suspect was taken to Owensboro Health Regional Hospital (OHRH) for treatment of minor injuries sustained in the altercation and for an evidentiary blood sample collection as part of the impaired driving investigation. The suspect admitted to deputies that she had smoked methamphetamine earlier in the day and was taken to the Daviess County Detention Center following her release from OHRH. Her driver’s license was located in her pocket when she was searched during her arrest.

Suspect: Tonya L. Baize, age 50, 700 block of Greenbriar Street, Owensboro, KY 

Charges: 

• Fleeing or Evading Police, 1st Degree (Motor Vehicle) 

• Disregarding Stop Sign 

• Operating a Motor Vehicle Under the Influence —3 rd Offense (aggravated) 

• Reckless Driving 

• Failure to Produce Insurance Card 

• Resisting Arrest • Probation Violation—Felony Offense (Warrant)