Warwick School Committee member charged with assault, DUI
WARWICK, R.I. (WJAR) — A Warwick School Committee member is facing charges including assault and DUI after a recent incident in Warwick.
Warwick police told NBC 10 they received a report of Karen Bachus' car driving erratically in the area of City Hall.
"She should know better," said one Warwick parent. "You're the adult so you should be giving kids the examples of what you should and shouldn't do."
NBC 10 reached out to Bachus multiple times for a comment but did not hear back.
An officer spotted the car and conducted a motor vehicle stop. After performing standard field sobriety tests, Bachus was taken to Warwick Police Department Headquarters.
Police said Bachus attempted to walk away despite officers' directions to stay seated in the area of the breathalyzer machine.
According to police, when police tried to direct her back to her seat, Bachus "struck the officer with a fist in the arm."
She was charged with simple assault, refusal to submit to a chemical test and DUI with an unknown BAC.
Sue Gibbs says her kids graduated out of Warwick Public Schools, but her grandkids will start there in a few years.
She tells NBC 10 her biggest concern is the assault charge.
"That's really not appropriate behavior," said Gibbs. "It's not okay to be lashing out and striking out at people when they know they're wrong."
Gibbs believes Bachus should issue an apology to the community. Other parents we spoke with believe she should resign.
"To hear about someone taking care of kids and doing this, you question all their judgement," said Nicole York, who has four kids in Warwick Public Schools. "I know people make mistakes but it's very hard to come back from that."
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The chair of the Warwick School Committee sent NBC 10 the following statement with regards to the incident:
"It has come to our attention that one of our colleagues was arrested over the weekend. The Warwick School Committee takes these matters seriously and is monitoring the situation closely but at this point we cannot comment any further."
Bachus was released with a summons to appear in court.
The next school committee meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, March 14.