Four days after getting out of jail, a Cobb County woman was arrested again after allegedly striking two deputies outside the jail Friday afternoon.
Candida Rychell Summerlin, 32, of Marietta, was inside a blue Chevrolet rental car in the jail’s parking lot when she was asked to turn down her loud music, according to Col. Milton Beck with the Cobb County Sheriff’s Office.
When she was warned the second time, Summerlin drove away, first striking Lt. Becky Westenberger with her car and then Sgt. Shane Kite, who was running to assist Westenberger, Beck said.
Summerlin then lost control of her car, hitting a post and some signs, disabling her car, according to the sheriff’s office. She was then taken into custody and returned to the jail.
Ernie Johnson, 20, of Rockmart, didn’t witness the car hit the deputies, but saw a deputy running after the car with a gun, he told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. He said the car continued moving until it hit a curb, knocking off a tire.
The driver got out of the car after hitting the curb and was thrown to the ground by police, Johnson said. Johnson said he was at the jail visiting an inmate.
“She was trying to fight,” Johnson said.
Johnson said deputies struggled with the woman, later identified as Summerlin, for several minutes before she was taken into custody. Summerlin remained in the Cobb jail without bond Sunday on numerous charges, including hit-and-run, aggravated assault, reckless conduct, and fleeing or attempting to elude a police officer.
The deputies suffered non-life-threatening leg injuries and were transported to the hospital, according to police. Westenberger suffered scrapes, bruises, scratches and a broken leg and Kite suffered scrapes and bruises, the sheriff’s office said.
It was not known why Summerlin was at the jail Friday afternoon. But earlier this week, she spent two nights as an inmate in the Cobb jail, booking records show. And she was also arrested in March.
On May 25, Summerlin allegedly pushed a pregnant woman to the ground during a dispute, according to her arrest warrant obtained by The AJC. Summerlin allegedly fought with the Cobb County police officer who was attempting to arrest her for that incident, the warrant states.
“Accused attempted to break away from the officer as the officer was attempting to place her in handcuffs,” the arrest warrant states. “When in handcuffs, accused attempted to flee from officer as the officer was attempting to place her in his patrol vehicle.”
Summerlin was released from jail Monday morning after posting $5,000 bond, booking records show.
In March, Summerlin was arrested and charged with making terroristic threats and simple battery after she allegedly threatened to kill someone, according to an arrest warrant.
About the Author
