Salt Lake woman charged with trying to hit officer with car

KEARNS — A Salt Lake woman is facing charges accusing her of trying to hit a police officer with her car.

Shanni Lee Ireland-Decker, 55, was charged Friday in 3rd District Court with aggravated assault targeting law enforcement, a first-degree felony; eight counts of forgery and failing to stop for police, third-degree felonies; plus possession of drug paraphernalia and causing an accident, class B misdemeanors.

On April 27, Unified police were called to a gas station near 4700 South and 4000 West on a report of a woman who “appeared to be unconscious behind the wheel” of a car that had been parked next to a gas pump for over an hour. The arriving officer parked in front of Ireland-Decker, who then immediately began to back away, according to charging documents.

The officer used his flashlight to signal to Ireland-Decker to stop. But while the two were talking, the officer told her to turn off her car and step out of the vehicle.

“Ireland-Decker then placed the vehicle in gear and drove toward (the officer) who was approaching the driver’s side door, just missing him as she fled eastbound on 4700 South,” the charges state.

The car was later found abandoned near 4200 S. Bangerter Highway after apparently “striking a raised island.” Drug paraphernalia and checks in another woman’s name were found in the vehicle, according to the charges. But when that woman was contacted, police say she confirmed the checks were forged.

Detectives used the registration information from the abandoned vehicle to identify Ireland-Decker.

Read the full story at ksl.com