Kingston woman charged with dangerous driving, violating court orders

A Kingston woman who led police on a short but high-speed chase through the city’s north end is now facing multiple charges after she was found to be in possession of weapons in violation of court conditions.

At approximately 6:50 p.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2020, police on regular patrol observed the woman driving dangerously on Benson Street. The officers saw the accused woman driving at a high rate of speed eastbound on Benson Street before failing to stop at a red light at the intersection of Benson Street and Division Street, where she narrowly avoided a collision with a car that had the right of way.

The officer activated their emergency lights, which seemed to have no impact on the accused woman, as she failed to stop and maintained a speed of over double the posted limit. Police then activated their siren, but the woman maintained her speed, “only slowing down at the last moment to turn southbound onto Wilson Street,” Kingston Police said in a press release on Thursday, Jan. 23, 2020.

The woman finally stopped after pulling over into a parking lot on Wilson Street. She was subsequently arrested for dangerous driving, and, when police identified her, they learned that she was on a release order, which included conditions that she not operate a motor vehicle and not possess any weapons. On the front passenger’s side seat of her vehicle, police observed a hatchet and a baseball bat in plain sight.

The accused woman was taken to Kingston Police Headquarters, and her property was searched. There, police discovered a flick knife which could be opened using centrifugal force in her purse.

The 31-year-old local woman was charged with dangerous driving, two counts of possession of a weapon for committing an offence, and two counts of failure to comply with a court release order.