Woman charged with assaulting officers, firefighters after crash

Updated Oct. 31, 2022

A woman initially arrested on March 19 on suspicion of DUI under 21 years old and assaulting law-enforcement officers and firefighters after her car landed in a ditch, pled guilty on May 6 to attempted aggravated assault on an officer in exchange for all other charges being dismissed.

The plea agreement accepted by Kio A. Thomas calls for 18 months of supervised probation.

At about 6 p.m. on March 19, police were called to White and Parker and Honeycutt roads to investigate a report of a black Camaro in a ditch.

Officers arrived and made contact with Thomas, who was partially undressed in the driver’s seat, according to the police probable-cause statement.

Officers said Thomas had several open containers of alcohol in the vehicle and a strong odor of alcohol on her breath.

Thomas appeared dazed and confused, officers said in their probable-cause statement, adding her speech was slurred, she was extremely sweaty, and her eyes were bloodshot and watery.

Thomas told police that she had been drinking alcohol before driving.

She then with fought officers, they said, pulling away and kicking them while screaming profanities. When placed in the back of a police vehicle, Thomas tried to kick the door open, police said.

A video from an officer-worn body camera of the incident released by Maricopa Police Department is consistent with officers’ written accounts.

Thomas was taken to Maricopa Police Department for processing and evaluation by Maricopa Fire/Medical personnel. During that process, Thomas allegedly threatened to kill the officers and firefighters, and kicked the firefighters, telling them she hoped their families die, according to the probable-cause statement.

When Thomas requested to use the restroom, officers escorted her, but she became combative, police said. She allegedly stepped on the feet of two officers and attempted to knee one of those officers in the groin, but missed, striking his thigh, police said.