FREDERICKSBURG, Va. — A woman is under arrest after allegedly causing a power outage Saturday night at an apartment complex in Fredericksburg that lasted several hours. Police believe she was driving drunk.
At 4 a.m. on Saturday, Feb. 10, the Fredericksburg Police E-911 Center got a report of a possible drunk driver in the 1300 block of Ashford Circle.
One officer who responded to the scene noticed a Buick Century with a flat tire and the engine running. That officer tried to get the driver to exit the car multiple times, but the driver reportedly ignored him. Instead, she reversed her car out of the parking space and tried to flee, investigators say.
The officer returned to his patrol car and pursued the Buick, watching it ram through the Silver Collection Apartment Complex entrance gate and drive through a section of fence. Detectives say the driver then drove across Hospitality Lane into the fence section in front of Ashford Circle before colliding head-on with a transformer box.
The officer approached the Buick at this point and commanded the driver get out. The driver exited and reportedly took off on foot, running towards Ashford Circle. The officer caught up and took the woman into custody.
The driver was later identified as Cherie Cotton, 38, of Fredericksburg. She was arrested and charged with driving under the influence (first offense), refusal to take a breath/blood test, obstruction of justice (two counts), destruction of property (two counts), eluding (felony), hit and run, and reckless driving on private property.
Cotton is currently being held at the Rappahannock Regional Jail without bond.
Police say the damage from this incident was significant, knocking out the power for half of the Silver Collection Apartment Complex residents for several hours.
WATCH NEXT:
MORE WAYS TO GET WUSA9
DOWNLOAD THE WUSA9 APP
Apple App Store: WUSA9 News on Apple
Google Play Store: WUSA9 News on Android
HOW TO ADD THE FREE WUSA9+ APP TO YOUR STREAMING DEVICE
ROKU: add the channel from the ROKU store or by searching for WUSA9.
For both Apple TV and Fire TV, search for "WUSA9" to find the free app to add to your account. Another option for Fire TV is to have the app delivered directly to your Fire TV through Amazon.
SIGN UP TO RECEIVE WUSA9 NEWSLETTER
Subscribe to our daily WUSA9 Newsletter for top stories from WUSA9 curated daily just for you. Get content and information right now for can’t-miss stories, Commanders content, weather, and more delivered right to your inbox.
