A woman driving with a flat tire who led a Bloomfield police officer on a pursuit through Bloomfield allegedly almost hit another vehicle or two, caused one to swerve off the roadway and caused another to slam on their brakes to avoid a collision. She was arrested and appeared in court today, Monday, March 4.

Amanda Marie Stahl, 37, Bedford, was arrested by Lt. Marvin Holt of the Bloomfield Police Department and booked in to the Greene County Jail around 1:56 p.m. on Friday, February 22.

Lt. Holt was on patrol in Bloomfield that day when he saw Stahl behind the wheel of a vehicle with a flat tire on the passenger side. She had one male passenger with her. Holt was going to talk to her where the car was parked but she drove off. He then tried to get her attention by honking at her, to no avail, so he hit the red and blue lights to initiate a traffic stop.

Stahl then pulled into the parking lot of the Country Porch gas station and stopped. Holt made contact, told her the tire was flat and asked for her driver’s license and registration. She allegedly told him she didn’t have her license, she knew the tire was flat and they were getting ready to air it up, so  Holt told her to pull around to the side of the store where the air hose was located so they could finish the traffic stop business in an out of the way location.

Holt said Stahl then put the vehicle in drive and pulled out of the parking lot to flee. Holt jumped back into his vehicle and advised dispatch that he was involved in a pursuit.

Holt reported Stahl’s driving behavior near the school, which was in session, caused another driver to slam on their brakes to avoid a collision, that she nearly hit another vehicle at an intersection and came within 2-3 feet of hitting a parked unoccupied car.

Holt said she then began to pick up speed to around 50 mph in a 25 mph zone, went around another vehicle in the area of South Lewis and Spring Street causing the other vehicle to swerve off the roadway.

They were traveling east on Spring Street when Stahl came to a stop at the intersection of South Seminary and Spring Street. The passenger later said he didn’t know why she was running and that he had physically reached over to apply the brakes so she would stop.

Before back-up arrived, Stahl exited the vehicle and was told to go to the ground. The passenger was also ordered to the ground and Holt had both in handcuffs when assistance arrived.

Greene County Sheriff’s Deputies Good, Wade and Elmore then arrived along with ISP Trooper Kent Winstead to assist with questioning and vehicle inventory. They reported finding marijuana and a smoking device inside Stahl’s purse.

 Holt reported that Stahl thought she was wanted on a warrant out of Lawrence County and she pleaded with him not to take her to jail, but she was transported to jail. The passenger was released from the scene with no charges pending.

Her bond was set at $5,500 surety with ten percent cash allowed. She has not posted bond and as of late Monday, March 4, remained in the Greene County Jail.

When she appeared in Greene Superior Court today, Monday, March 4, for her initial hearing, Greene County Public Defender Alan Baughman was appointed to represent her and she was formally charged with:

• Resisting law enforcement – draws or uses a deadly weapon, a Level 6 felony,

• Reckless driving that causes property damage, a Class B misdemeanor,

• Possession of marijuana, a Class B misdemeanor, and

• Possession of paraphernalia, a Class C misdemeanor.