Police Say Woman Attacks Officers While Friend is Accused

Editor's note: one name was removed from this article as the record was expunged.

While charging a man with driving under the influence this past week, also arrested his female passenger, accusing her of battering them when she wasn't allowed to drive from the scene.

Denise Toms-Barrera, 50, of the 3900 block of West Collum Avenue in Chicago, was arrested Tuesday around 11:55 p.m. in the 19400 block of Harlem Avenue in . Police said Barrera was the passenger in a vehicle being driven by (removed), who was charged with possession of a controlled substance, driving under the influence of alcohol and drugs, driving under the influence with a blood-alcohol content greater than 0.08 and improper lane use.

Stopped for crossing over the lane lines, (removed) told police he was "just playing" with them when he swerved and that he "thought (the officer) was a friend" driving next to him, the report said. He also told them he and Barrera were coming from Intimo Lounge where they'd celebrated a belated Valentine's Day together.

Police said they found a 3.6-gram bag of a "white powdery substance" suspected to be cocaine on (removed) after he failed field sobriety tests. Police said they were making arrangements to have his car towed because they believed Barrera was unfit to drive. At that time, she got out of the vehicle and began screaming, the report said.

"(Officers) advised Denise that she could either call for a ride or (officers) would give her a ride home," the report said. "Denise became very angry and started yelling that the (officers) wanted her to 'get murdered.'"

Police said Barerra pushed one of the officers and demanded the keys.

"(Officers) attempted to place Denise under arrest … and (she) immediately resisted," the report said.

She continued trying to pull her arms away and twisting her body from officers, the report said. As she was being handcuffed, she kicked one of the officers in his left leg, police said. While in the squad, police said, she was kicking the back windows so police strapped her feet. She reportedly broke an emergency light in the car's rear window and a support bar.

She was charged with one felony count of aggravated battery to a police officer, criminal damage to state-supported property and resisting a peace officer. (removed) allegedly blew a .197 on the Breathalyzer around 12:50 a.m.

Both (removed) and Barrera appeared in bond court Wednesday morning in Will County. Their set bail was not listed in reports.

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