– Morning DWI arrests roundup
– Wednesday DWI arrests roundup.
Accident – Death – Obituary News : The Roanoke Rapids Police Department, under the leadership of Chief Shane Guyant, reported a series of incidents involving impaired drivers in recent days.
In the early hours of the morning, Lieutenant D.A. Newsome was patrolling Highway 48 when he observed a driver displaying erratic driving behavior. The driver, later identified as Olivia Fay Gonyea from Clinton, Massachusetts, was seen weaving within her lane, crossing the white line, and speeding well above the posted limit of 20 mph, reaching a dangerous 38 mph. Gonyea’s reckless driving escalated when she crossed the centerline into oncoming traffic.
Lieutenant Newsome intervened and conducted Standardized Field Sobriety Testing, which indicated that Gonyea was under the influence of a substance other than alcohol. Despite initial resistance to being arrested, she was eventually taken into custody and transported to ECU North for a blood draw. Gonyea now faces charges of DWI, driving left of center, speeding, and resisting a public officer. She is currently held at the Halifax County Detention Center awaiting a court appearance scheduled for May 24th.
On a separate occasion, the police responded to a call about a reckless driver on Roanoke Avenue around midday. The driver, identified as Rebekah Tompkins, a 42-year-old woman from Gaston, was reported to be swerving across lanes and demonstrating erratic behavior on the road.
Officers, including PACE Officer J. Conrad, Officer B. Holcomb, and Halifax County Sheriff’s Office Deputy G. Martin and Sergeant B. Murphy, intercepted Tompkins as she continued to dangerously veer over the yellow line into oncoming traffic. Conrad conducted Standardized Field Sobriety Testing, which confirmed that Tompkins was impaired by a substance other than alcohol.
Tompkins was arrested and agreed to a blood draw. She faces charges of DWI, reckless driving with wanton disregard, and failure to maintain lane control. Released into the custody of a responsible person, Tompkins is scheduled to appear in district court on June 7th.
The incidents highlight the importance of responsible driving and the vigilance of law enforcement in ensuring public safety on the roads of Roanoke Rapids. Citizens are urged to report any suspicious or dangerous driving behaviour to the authorities promptly to prevent potential accidents and harm to the community..
– Morning DWI arrests roundup
– Wednesday DWI arrests roundup.
