LANCASTER – A 33-year-old woman accused of driving drunk and then firing an off-duty deputy’s gun during a struggle has pleaded not guilty to three felonies and three misdemeanors.
Angela Nicole Tatum appeared in an Antelope Valley courtroom Friday where she was arraigned on several charges, including negligent discharge of a firearm, shooting at an inhabited dwelling, making criminal threats, driving under the influence, driving with a blood alcohol level of .08 percent or higher and vandalism, according to court records.
The charges stem from an incident that occurred late Tuesday night (March 12) in the parking lot of an apartment building at 714 West Milling Street in Lancaster.
Sheriff’s officials said Tatum was driving drunk and had crashed her vehicle into a pole in the parking lot, when an off-duty deputy tried to stop Tatum from leaving the scene.
During a struggle with Tatum, the deputy’s personal weapon fell to the ground, and Tatum picked up the gun fired it, according to Lt. Paul Pfrehm of the Lancaster Sheriff’s Station.
No one was hit, and several deputies responded to the scene to restrain Tatum, Pfrehm said. Tatum was arrested and booked on $35,000 bail at the Lancaster Sheriff’s Station early Wednesday morning.
On Friday, a Superior Court Judge raised Tatum’s bail from $35,000 to $300,000. Tatum, who has been in jail since her arrest, is due back in court on Wednesday, March 27, for a preliminary hearing.
Related article: Woman jailed after struggle with off-duty deputy, gun discharged
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Doc Rivers says
Lets protect the Blvd at all costs. Mayors orders
dumbandblind says
Why do drunk people always plead “Not guilty”?
Gladys says
I notice the incident location has been moved from behind the bar to the apartment house parking lot.
Mark says
if you read the first article, it says in the parking lot of the apartments.