Woman throws liquor bottle at police cruiser

A Corbin woman arrested Sunday morning after allegedly throwing a liquor bottle at a Knox County Sheriff’s deputy’s cruiser has avoided jail time but must pay $718 in fines and court costs as part of a plea agreement.

Twenty-six-year-old Rachel E. Durham was arrested just after midnight on U.S. 25E in Flat Lick on charges of operating a motor vehicle under the influence, criminal littering, controlled substance prescription not in original container, reckless driving, license to be in possession, no insurance and resisting arrest.

Knox County Deputy William Stewart, the department’s public affairs officer, said Deputy Mikey Ashurst was on patrol in the area when he saw the vehicle travelling slow in the passing lane on U.S. 25E.

“While Deputy Ashurst was behind the vehicle, the driver threw out a liquor bottle striking Deputy Ashurst’s cruiser,” Stewart stated.

Ashurst initiated a traffic stop, and upon speaking with the driver, later identified as Durham, noticed she had a white residue around the outside of her mouth and had something inside her mouth.

“Deputy Ashurst was able to get her to spit out 14 Gabapentin tablets,” Stewart stated adding that Durham became combative with Ashurst.

At an arraignment hearing Monday in Knox District Court, Durham agreed to an offer to plead guilty to the DUI, controlled substance not in proper container and resisting arrest. In return, prosecutors agreed to dismiss the remaining charges.