A Bienville Parish woman was arrested by Ruston Police Wednesday afternoon after she proved uncooperative on a traffic stop.
A Ruston police officer was traveling south on Trenton Street and saw a vehicle with an inoperable brake light. The officer attempted to stop it, but it continued south, crossing the railroad tracks. The officer activated the patrol car siren to get the driver to stop.
The driver, Sheryl White, 43, was informed of the reason for the stop. The officer’s affidavit stated White “disagreed” and was allowed to see the lack of functioning brake lights and she still “disagreed.”
White was asked for her driver’s license and proof of insurance. At that point, she received a phone call, and the officer allowed her to answer. She attempted to walk away, and the officer prevented her from doing so. After White was unable to walk away, she allegedly became agitated, asking for the officer’s reason for the stop. She was informed she did not have proper brake lights and that a records check showed the vehicle did not have insurance.
White was asked for her identification approximately 20 times and she refused, informing the officer she was “traveling not driving.” When a second officer arrived, White eventually provided a passport as identification. It was determined that her driver’s license had been suspended and she had recently been cited for that violation.
White was told she was under arrest and to exit her vehicle. She refused after repeated requests. She was then physically removed from her vehicle and taken into custody.
White was booked at the Lincoln Parish Detention Center for resisting an officer, driving under suspension, improper brake lights, and no proof of insurance. Bail was set at $1,000 on the resisting charge and she was released on her own recognizance on the traffic charges.
This information has been provided by a law enforcement agency as public information. Persons named or shown in photographs or video as suspects in a criminal investigation, or arrested and charged with a crime, have not been convicted of any criminal offense and are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
