MyNewsLA reports that a 25-year-old Desert Hot Springs woman was arrested on suspicion of DUI in Palm Springs on Tuesday, April 11.
According to a press release by the Palm Springs Police Department, officers responded to the 300 block of South Palm Canyon Drive for a vehicle parked the wrong way and partially off the roadway.
Responding officers found Melinda Leigh Haley in the driver’s seat of her vehicle. During the investigation, the officers learned that Haley had been driving on a suspended license and was on probation for a previous DUI incident.
“During the arrest, Haley headbutted an officer and attempted to kick out the window of the police cruiser,” the statement said. “Haley subsequently spat on several officers who attempted to detain her, and later spat on EMS staff that tried to evaluate her for injuries.”
Haley was taken into custody and booked into the Larry D. Smith Correctional Facility in Banning. A judge set her bail at $10,000. At the time of the report, Haley was still being held in custody.
Authorities say that Haley is facing three misdemeanor charges of assaulting a police officer, one misdemeanor charge of battery on an officer, and one count of driving under the influence of alcohol.
Palm Springs Police Chief Andy Mills expressed his frustrations about repeat DUI offenders putting lives in danger to reporters. “The fact that this suspect also chose to assault officers attempting to make the arrest only compounds the gravity of their actions,” Chief Mills said.
Haley was scheduled to appear at the Larson Justice Center in Indio Thursday afternoon for her arraignment.
