EVERETT — A Mount Vernon woman allegedly hit an Everett police officer twice with her car, including when he was pointing his gun at her.
The woman was captured in Wenatchee and booked into the Snohomish County Jail. There she was overheard saying, “I’m glad I hit that Everett cop,” according to court papers.
Vanessa Cuevas, 28, has been charged with second-degree assault for the Feb. 28 hit-and-run. She has pleaded not guilty and her trial is scheduled for mid-May.
Everett police officer Mark Smith was responding to a nuisance complaint in the 2600 block of Broadway. An emergency dispatcher was told two people were eating lunch on the property near a “No Trespassing” sign.
Smith was investigating the complaint when he allegedly spotted Cuevas in the driver’s seat of a Pontiac, where she appeared to be heating a glass pipe with a lighter. He also saw a syringe and a piece of foil on her lap. Smith believed that Cuevas was in the process of using drugs, according to court documents.
She hadn’t noticed him so Smith started to record Cuevas with his camera. His position was given away when he radioed another officer to respond. Cuevas reportedly started putting the suspected drug paraphernalia in her purse, Snohomish County deputy prosecutor Jarett Goodkin wrote.
That’s when the situation went sideways.
Smith ordered Cuevas to stop and get out of the car. She continued to stash the items in her purse. Smith tried to open the driver’s door but Cuevas had locked the vehicle. She started it up despite the officer’s repeated commands to step out of the car.
Smith moved behind the Pontiac to keep Cuevas from leaving but she backed into him and then pulled forward, Goodkin wrote.
The officer called for more assistance. Cuevas put the car in reverse again.
“Fearing for his safety, Officer Smith pulled out his firearm and ordered Cuevas to stop and exit the car,” Goodkin said.
The officer moved away from the Pontiac toward the center of the parking lot. Cuevas reportedly backed up so the front of her car was pointed at Smith.
The officer aimed his gun at Cuevas. As he tried to sidestep to the right, Cuevas allegedly accelerated and struck Smith, knocking him to the ground. She fled the scene.
Smith was taken to the hospital where he was treated for his injuries. He is back to work, Everett police officer Aaron Snell said.
Another officer viewed the video Smith had taken and immediately recognized Cuevas, according to court records. He also knew she was associated with a 2004 Pontiac Grand Am.
Chelan County sheriff’s deputies arrested her two days later in Wenatchee where she was staying with a relative. Everett police picked her up, and detectives noticed Cuevas had on the same sweatshirt she was seen wearing in the video.
Cuevas was being held on $50,000 bail. She had an outstanding warrant at the time of the incident and has failed to appear for court hearings 14 times since 2008, according to court records.
Cuevas has a 2013 felony drug conviction. She also has a pending third-degree assault charge in Snohomish County.
Diana Hefley: 425-339-3463; hefley@heraldnet.com.
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