Bond set for woman on DWI, other charges
Bond was set at $7,500 Monday for an El Dorado woman who appeared in 35th Judicial District Court on charges that included
DWI and child endangerment in connection to an incident in which she is alleged to have nearly struck two police officers while her grandchild was in her vehicle.
Yonicka L. Shelbon, 38, of the 300 block of Marrable
Hill, was arrested Jan. 26 for endangering the welfare of a minor, first-degree, DWI, first offense, refusal to submit to a chemical test, no child safety restraint and failure to yield.
At approximately 6:15 p.m. Sunday, El Dorado police had responded to a motor vehicle accident and were directing traffic in the area of College Avenue and Fifth Street when a car that was traveling south on College sped toward officers. According to a police a report, two officers “were able to jump out of the way” as the vehicle sped past them.
Police said the driver, later determined to be Shelbon, ignored commands to slow down, noting that they also waved their arms to get her attention.
An officer reported throwing a traffic wand at the car in an attempt to force the driver to slow down and to prevent the car from striking two tow truck drivers who were loading damaged vehicles onto their rigs.
Police said the wand struck the rear driver’s door of the car, prompting Shelbon to slam on the brakes and pull into a nearby parking lot.
As officers approached the car, they saw Shelbon pick up a small child, later identified as her 1-year-old granddaughter, from the floor of the front passenger side of the car, according to a police report.
Police said it appeared as if the child may have slid out of the front passenger seat and onto the floor board.
After being asked to exit the car, Shelbon instead rolled down the driver’s window and police said the odor of “intoxicants” immediately wafted from the car.
Police said Shelbon appeared intoxicated, noting that her eyes were bloodshot and watery and she had difficulty grasping the handle to open the driver’s door.
An officer reportedly-reached inside the vehicle to unlock the driver’s door and he used the exterior handle to open the door.
Police said Shelbon initially did not comply with commands to exit the vehicle and repeatedly asked them “what was going on.”
After exiting the vehicle and being informed that she nearly struck officers, Shelbon made statements indicating that she did not see the officers or their police cars as she drove through the area.
Shelbon was then taken into custody for endangering the welfare of a minor and DWI.
She was transported to the Union County jail, where she refused to submit to a breathalyzer or to conduct field sobriety tests.
The child was released into the custody of her mother, police said.
Wilfred D. Frazier, 37, of the 1500 block of East Main, was arrested for DWI in connection to the two-vehicle accident to which officers had responded in the area of College and Fifth.
Th accident was reported at 5:28 p.m. and police said it appeared that Frazier rear-ended a car and that he was intoxicated. Frazier was also cited for driving on a suspended license.
No injuries were reported.