Baton Rouge woman arrested after dragging officer, crashing car

BATON ROUGE, La. (Louisiana First) — A Baton Rouge woman was arrested after allegedly fleeing from police while intoxicated, dragging an officer in the process before crashing on I-110.

On March 6, Baton Rouge police responded to the 2200 block of Erie Street after receiving a call about a person passed out in a vehicle. When officers arrived, they found 41-year-old Catrina Nelson speaking with emergency medical services. Paramedics alerted officers to an open wine bottle in the car and a strong odor of alcohol on Nelson’s breath.

According to the arrest affidavit, an officer instructed Nelson to remove the keys from the ignition, but she refused. When the officer attempted to take the keys, Nelson allegedly grabbed the officer through the window. As the two struggled, Nelson managed to start the vehicle and accelerate with the officer hanging out of the car. The officer let go to avoid injury as Nelson sped away.

Shortly after, officers were alerted to a crash on I-110 South, where a vehicle matching Nelson’s was found wrecked against a guardrail. Witnesses reported seeing a woman flee toward Scenic Highway, and police later took her into custody.

Nelson’s breathalyzer test showed a blood alcohol concentration of .280.

She was booked on multiple charges, including:

• Operating while intoxicated (4th offense)
• Hit and run
• Reckless operation of a vehicle
• Resisting a police officer with force or violence
• Simple obstruction of a highway of commerce
• Driver’s License; Suspended
• Proof of insurance required

Nelson was booked into the East Baton Rouge Parish Prison.

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