A Houston woman is charged with the assault of a law officer following an incident last week, the Texas County Sheriff’s Department reported.
Ashley R. Topping, 18, of 113 Acorn St. in Houston, was issued citations for third-degree assault on a law enforcement officer and failure to obey a deputy after an incident May 8 on U.S. 63 south of Houston.
Deputies were dispatched at about 11:50 p.m. regarding a report of a green Volkswagen Beetle parked in front of Souls Harbor Family Worship and flashing its high beams as people drove by. The officers went to the location and made contact with two teenage girls in the car.
During an investigation (with assistance from a Missouri State Highway Patrol trooper), Topping reportedly tried multiple times to get back inside her car by walking straight through officers, tried to escape by running across the church parking lot and grabbed at a deputy’s nametag.
After Topping was cited, the girls were released to the custody of the other girl’s parents, who also drove the Beetle away from the scene.