Woman Caught Texting Leads Police on Mile-and-a-Half Pursuit

EAST GREENWICH, RI—East Greenwich police charged a 48-year-old Warwick woman with eluding police and obstruction of justice after she refused to stop for an officer who caught her texting behind the wheel.

According to a police report, Ann Marie Demello, 48, of 33 Wild Flower Circle, was in her car near Showcase Cinemas on Division Street when an officer finishing up a traffic stop saw her sitting in traffic texting with both hands at around 6:35 p.m. on Dec. 18.

The officer knocked on her window with the intent of telling her “it was not the smartest thing to be doing in front of a police officer,” according to the report.

Demello rolled down her window, said “what the hell do you want? and then swore at the officer when he asked for her license.

Demello then drove off, prompting the officer to get in his cruiser and begin following with lights flashing.

Demello continued to drive while ignoring the officer behind her. As she continued down Quaker Lane, she called 911 and told Warwick dispatchers that she was being harassed by a police officer who was following her.

The officer spoke with Warwick dispatchers and explained that he was attempting to pull her over.

Warwick dispatchers were able to convince Demello to stop in front of the Lowe’s on Quaker Lane.

The officer then reported that Demello was yelling and screaming, saying the officer was a “punk” and harassing her.

“Seeing as I was not getting anywhere with the suspect, I waited for other units to see if someone could talk some sense into the suspect,” the officer wrote in his report.

Eventually, an officer from Warwick was able to get Demllo to produce her license.

Police refrained from arresting Demello at the scene because she had a small child with her.

“To not make matters worse and have the child see the mother get arrested at the scene it was determined that she would be summoned at the scene on two charges,” the report stated.

Later, a police headquarters, police issued court summons for the aforementioned charges and Demello is due to apper on Jan. 8.

She was also issued traffic citations for failing to exhibit a license on demand and texting while driving. She was also cited for failing to obey a police officer and failing to exhibit registration.