Jasmine Vasquez, 28, of East Chicago, has been charged in Lake County after allegedly driving while intoxicated with a 3-year-old child in her vehicle, striking a parked vehicle and two mailboxes, leaving the scene, and later kicking a police officer in the face during her arrest.
According to court documents, the incident occurred at approximately 8:50 p.m. on June 23 in the 2600 block of West 41st Avenue in Gary. Police were dispatched after a resident reported that a vehicle had struck his parked vehicle and mailbox before leaving the scene. The resident followed the suspect vehicle while calling 911 until it stopped several blocks away.
Police located a damaged Dodge Grand Caravan with deployed airbags and found Vasquez’s 3-year-old nephew secured in a rear child safety seat. Court documents state Vasquez repeatedly claimed that a black Honda Civic had run a stop sign and struck her vehicle, but officers observed signs of intoxication, including slurred speech, bloodshot watery eyes, and the odor of an alcoholic beverage.
According to court documents, while officers were preparing to administer field sobriety tests, Vasquez unexpectedly pulled out her pockets and lifted her shirt and sports bra, exposing her breasts while repeatedly saying, “nothing on me.” Court documents state an officer told her she did not need to do that before the sobriety tests continued.
According to court documents, Vasquez agreed to field sobriety tests and a portable breath test, which allegedly registered a blood alcohol concentration of 0.172. A certified chemical breath test later administered at the Lake County Jail measured 0.158.
The 3-year-old child was evaluated by EMS at the scene and did not require transport to a hospital. Court documents state the child’s mother later arrived and took custody of him.
Court documents allege that while officers were attempting to place Vasquez into a patrol vehicle, she resisted, pushed and pulled away from officers, and kicked an officer in the face, causing the officer’s lip to bleed. Investigators also allege she struck a parked vehicle and two mailboxes before being taken into custody.
Lodged in the Lake County Jail.
Charges filed June 24:
- Battery Against a Public Safety Official (Level 6 Felony)
- Operating a Vehicle While Intoxicated Endangering a Person Less Than 18 Years Old (Level 6 Felony)
- Operating a Vehicle While Intoxicated with an Alcohol Concentration Equivalent of .15 or More (Class A Misdemeanor)
- Operating While Intoxicated Endangering a Person (Class A Misdemeanor)
- Leaving the Scene of an Accident Involving an Unattended Vehicle (Class B Misdemeanor)
- Operating While Intoxicated (Class C Misdemeanor)
- No Operator’s License in Possession (Infraction)
