NORTH HAVERHILL — A Vermont woman who police say struck a Haverhill police officer with her car in March is facing 22 charges related to the incident.
Christina Garrison, 37, of East Barre, now faces six felony charges, 11 misdemeanors and five violations related to the events of March 27, according to the summary of the case, which moved from Haverhill Circuit Court to Grafton Superior Court last month.
The felony charges include three counts of second-degree assault, including with a deadly weapon and causing bodily injury; vehicular assault; DUI aggravated attempt to elude police; and criminal restraint.
When Haverhill Patrol Officer Ty Brown was dispatched on March 27 to Central Street in Woodsville for a welfare check, he observed Garrison slumped over in the driver’s seat, unconscious, he wrote in the probable cause affidavit. The blue Nissan SUV had an expired temporary license plate designated for a Jeep Wrangler.
Brown knocked on the window and Garrison did not respond, according to the affidavit. Opening the driver side door to shake her awake, he observed drug paraphernalia and an open alcoholic beverage in the vehicle.
Garrison, now responsive, informed Brown she did not have identification when asked, stated the affidavit, and said her name was Kristina Henderson but provided her real date of birth.
Haverhill officer Joel Barton arrived on scene and spoke with Garrison from the passenger side door while Brown checked her identification in his cruiser. While inquiring about the alcoholic beverage in her center console, Barton observed her attempting to get her keys in the ignition.
Despite orders to exit the vehicle, Garrison backed out of the parking spot, causing the passenger side door to knock Barton to the ground.
“The vehicle, then dragged him and almost ran over him,” the affidavit said.
Both officers reportedly pointed their duty weapons at Garrison, but she ducked down and continued to drive away.
Barton, sustained non-life-threatening injuries and was transported for medical evaluation and treatment, according to a March 27 news release by Haverhill Police. Barton was not directly named at the time.
“The officer is expected to make a full recovery,” the release stated.
Haverhill Police Chief David Appleby did not respond by deadline to a phone message and email regarding Barton’s injuries and current condition.
Later that night, Vermont State Police located Garrison across the border in Wells River and arrested her on previous charges out of Vermont and as a fugitive from justice. Her bail was $100,000, according to the affidavit. On March 31, authorities transferred her to the Grafton County House of Corrections.
When reached by phone, Garrison’s public defender, Monica Gasey, declined to share how she pleaded at a Haverhill District Court arraignment last month, citing attorney-client confidentiality. Garrison’s plea and bail order were not filed electronically into the New Hampshire court system.
Due to probable cause that Garrison committed felonies and jurisdiction limits in Haverhill Circuit Court, the case moved to Grafton Superior Court on April 22, where Garrison has not yet been scheduled for an arraignment on the 22 charges.
