Driver Accused of Killing Police Officer

A 22 year old Stone Mountain resident has been accused of driving under the influence ( DUI ) and felony first degree vehicular homicide after a January 2012 incident in which she struck and killed an Atlanta police officer. A Fulton County Magistrate Court Judge set a bond for $15,000 on two of the misdemeanor counts, but denied bond on the vehicular homicide charge. This means that the driver will remain in the Fulton County jail for at least the next few weeks. Some relatives of the Atlanta police officer were in the courtroom during the bond hearing. A Fulton County Superior Court Judge will next consider the issue of bond.

The Fulton County District Attorney's office argued that while the driver has never been arrested for anything before, she has been cited six times for traffic offenses including 4 times for speeding and twice for making erratic lane changes. In addition, the motorist has missed court twice in the past on those prior traffic tickets. In 2008, the driver was given a citation for causing a single vehicle accident. At the scene of the DUI accident, the motorist gave a preliminary breath sample that registered a .16%, which is over the legal blood alcohol limit. The results of the driver's blood test are pending.