Injured Cobb Sheriff's Deputies Honored

By Patch Field Editor Rodney Thrash

Two Cobb County Sheriff's Office deputies who were injured when a woman allegedly struck them with a vehicle in the jail parking lot were honored by their peers Thursday.

The Cobb County Law Enforcement Association recognized Lt. Becky Westenberger and Sgt. Shane Kite "for their bravery," according to a post on Sheriff Neil Warren's Facebook page.

About 1 p.m. May 31, Westenberger attempted to talk to Candida Rychell Summerlin of Marietta about the loud music coming from her car, Chief Dep. Milton Beck told Patch that day.

Westenberger asked Summerlin to move the vehicle from a parking space in front of the Cobb County Adult Detention Work Release Center to one in the public parking lot across the street.

When Summerlin backed out of the space in front of the work release center, she allegedly "aimed the front of her car at Lt. Westenberger, revved up her engine repeatedly in a threatening manner, rapidly accelerated and purposely (ran) the car into Lt. Westenberger" with "the front bumper of the vehicle," according to an arrest warrant.

The impact sent Westenberger "airborne" and left her with bruises, cuts, abrasions and "a broken lower leg which must be surgically repaired," according to the warrant.

Summerlin sped away, and Sgt. Shane Kite went tried to stop her, Beck said. Summerlin allegedly ignored his commands, crossed over the center of the lane and struck him in the legs and arms.

Everything was captured on jail security cameras, according to the warrant.

Both deputies were taken to WellStar Kennestone Hospital with scrapes, bruises and other injuries.

While Westenberger's leg was broken, Kite was able to return to work the next day.

Authorities apprehended Summerlin when she lost control of her vehicle, ran over a couple of signs and hit the curb, Beck said. She faces 27 charges in connection with the incident and remains in the Cobb County Adult Detention Center without bond.