RI School Committee Member Charged With Assaulting Police Officer & Refusing Chemical Test

RI School Committee Member Charged With Assaulting Police Officer & Refusing Chemical Test

A school committee member in Rhode Island was arrested over the weekend — for refusing a breathalyzer test and for assaulting a police officer. 

Warwick School Committee member Karen Bachus was arrested on multiple charges on Saturday, GoLocal learned. 

 

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About Incident 

According to Warwick Police, Bachus was reported driving erratically by a witness in a car on Post Road in Apponaug near City Hall shortly after 9:30 PM Saturday night.

The witness then followed Bachus’ vehicle, flashing their lights at Bachus to pull over. 

The cars then reportedly traveled past a Warwick police officer stationed in a parking lot, which saw the vehicles driving by and followed in pursuit.

Police say Bachus then traveled onto West Shore Road, at which point police made the traffic stop.

It was at this time that Bachus reportedly assaulted the officer. 

Bachus is facing three charges — assaulting a police officer, refusal to submit to a chemical test, and DUI-BAC unknown. 

Bachus could not be reached for comment at time of publication.