Woman arrested, accused of driving with intent to kill
After spending a month at-large, a Williston woman accused of trying to run down a police officer during a traffic stop last month has been arrested and charged with attempting to kill a law enforcement official.
Merita S. Carter, 40, of Skyland Farm in Aiken, is charged with assault with intent to kill, reckless driving and speeding.
Police said a tipster called CrimeStoppers and led police to where Carter may be and gave them a description of the vehicle she had been seen in.
Police located her in North Augusta and took her into custody.
Officers have since learned that she is wanted in Indiana for a parole violation from a drug arrest.
Indiana will extradite.
She will first go to trial in Aiken County to face the City of Aiken's charges against her.
If she makes bond, however, Public Safety will hold her for Indiana.
Her bond was set at $10,000.
She was initially stopped by Public Safety on Oct. 17 for traveling 63 mph in a 45 mph zone, but when the officer asked her for her driver's license, registration and proof of insurance, she was unable to find her insurance information.
The officer smelled alcohol on the woman and then asked her to get out of the vehicle to take a sobriety test, but the woman refused, saying she had done nothing wrong, according to the police report.
She allegedly attempted to strike the officer with her vehicle.
Police said she drove away and then turned around and traveled directly in the path of the officer.
He was able to avoid being struck.
Contact Karen Daily at kdaily@aikenstandard.com.