Motorist Charged With Attacking Riverside Police Officer During DUI Booking

(CBS) – A DUI suspect attacked a Riverside police officer early Saturday while authorities were trying to book her on suspicion of driving while intoxicated.

Riverside police observed Latoya L. King, 32, of Chicago around 2:30 a.m. in the 3200 block of Harlem doing 53 mph in a 35 mph zone, the police department said in a news release issued Sunday.

After pulling her over, the patrol officer detected a strong alcoholic odor and observed open alcohol in a plastic cup, later determined to be Remi Martin liquor, police said. The driver failed six field-sobriety tests and almost fell onto the road, police said.

The suspect said she had been out "clubbing" and was on her way home. She allegedly did not provide complete information about her identity at the time of the traffic stop.

At the station, the suspect blew a breathalyzer of 0.16 – twice the legal limit in Illinois, police said. Then she became "extremely violent," breaking away from officers to "kick and punch" a booking machine. She also attacked one of the officers, kicking and spitting into the officer's face and verbally threatened the officers and their families, police allege.

"It is a shame that officers must be subjected to this demeaning rhetoric for just simply doing their job," Riverside Police Chief Thomas Weitzel said in a prepared statement.

Lyons police were called to assist. Police determined the driver was King, who had an extensive criminal history, police said.

King was charged with felony aggravated drunk driving, aggravated battery to a police officer, resisting arrest, among several offenses. No further information was available.

Weitzel said his department will petition the court to have King tested for communicable diseases. The injured officer was treated and released from the hospital.