On March 1 at around 5:30 pm, Det. Brian Goody of the Winnfield Police Department noticed a female subject waving him down.  As he turned into the parking lot of Smoker’s Paradise, the subject got into her car and left at a high speed.  

Det. Goody followed and observed the vehicle making multiple lane changes and passing in the turning lane at a high rate of speed causing a dangerous situation for other drivers.  He attempted to stop the vehicle. The driver would not stop, and a second unit marked for patrol driven by Sgt. Ashley Carpenter joined the pursuit.  

Going south on U.S. Hwy 167, speeds were reported at well over 100 miles per hour. As units tried to box the vehicle in the travel lane, the driver turned and proceeded back into town at speeds reported to be over 110 mph.  While the pursuit continued, Sgt. Carpenter recognized the driver and the car as being a rental car reported stolen earlier in the morning from Ruston.  The pursuit ended on Robinson Street where the driver stopped at a residence.  There she was taken into custody.  During the arrest, the assailant resisted officer’s attempts to subdue her and she kicked Det. Goody. 

Marissa Sonnier, 38, from Ruston, and formerly of Winnfield, was arrested and charged with aggravated flight from an officer, resisting an officer with physical violence, and failure to appear on an outstanding warrant.  While being checked medically prior to booking, she made the statement to officers that she “had fun drag racing and “It was a rush.” She was booked into the city jail and currently awaits a 72-hour hearing by the city Judge.  Bond had not been set.