When a woman made her first appearance in Baxter County Circuit Court in early January, she pronounced herself “definitely guilty” of the charges against her, and said she did not want the court to waste time on her case.
Sixty-year-old Lynda Louise Woodruff who listed an address along Old Tracy Ferry Road on some court documents was back in court Monday, pled guilty and was given four years probation.
At the time of her initial appearance, Circuit Judge John Putman told Woodruff it was not a wise move to plead guilty until she had a chance to at least talk with a lawyer.
A public defender represented her.
Woodruff’s charges include criminal mischief, leaving the scene of an accident and fleeing.
THE ARREST
Woodruffs arrest stemmed from a series of incidents on December 21 last year.
A Baxter County sheriffs deputy was traveling North on East 9th Street when he observed what seemed to be some type of disturbance in the parking lot of a convenience store.
He saw a dark blue pickup truck leaving the parking lot in what was described as a “reckless manner.”
The deputy reported as he pursued the vehicle along Highway 5 South, the truck was reported to be traveling at speeds in excess of 70-miles-per-hour.
The vehicle turned off Highway 5 and onto Old Tracy Ferry Road. According to the probable cause affidavit, the truck was observed crossing the centerline of the roadway several times and also traveling on the wrong side of the road.
The vehicle abruptly came to a stop after the driver was reported to have almost lost control of the truck.
Woodruff was identified as the driver.
The owner of the truck, whose address is the same as Woodruff’s, had called the sheriff’s department to report that she had stolen the vehicle.
When she was being arrested, Woodruff asked if anyone had been hurt when she had hit a vehicle in front of the convenience store.
The deputy on scene was not aware she had crashed into another car, but it was confirmed she had.
Witness said the crash occurred as Woodruff was leaving the store. She is reported to have hit a silver-colored vehicle and then pushed it with her truck until it was shoved out of the way allowing her to leave.
In addition, as she was pushing the silver vehicle out of the way, it was shoved into a burgundy colored pickup truck.
There was also fresh damage on the truck Woodruff was driving.
There was no indication in the probable cause affidavit as to what led Woodruff to take the actions she did.
Woodruff has been free on bond.
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