HAVERHILL — The 38-year-old woman who hit a police officer with a car in March took a plea deal, convicting her of one felony and five misdemeanors.
On Thursday, Christina Garrison, of East Barre, pleaded guilty to a felony charge of reckless conduct with a deadly weapon; false reports to law enforcement; obstructing government administration; conduct after accident; disobeying an officer and simple assault.
A welfare check on Central Street in Woodsville, a Haverhill village, turned into the subject evading police and injuring an officer in the process.
On March 27, officer Ty Brown approached a blue Nissan SUV, where Garrison was slumped over the steering wheel, he wrote in an affidavit filed in Haverhill Circuit Court. She didn’t respond to knocking, which prompted Brown to open the driver’s side door to shake her awake. In the vehicle, he noted drug paraphernalia and an open alcoholic beverage, he wrote.
Garrison, then awake, identified herself as Kristina Henderson but gave her real date of birth, according to the affidavit. Another officer, Joel Barton, arrived on the scene and Brown went to his cruiser.
When Barton approached her passenger-side door, Garrison tried to put her keys in the ignition, the affidavit said. Disobeying orders to exit the vehicle, Garrison reversed the vehicle and knocked Barton to the ground with the open passenger-side door.
“The vehicle then dragged him and nearly ran over him,” the affidavit stated.
Garrison fled to Vermont, but state police located her across the border in Wells River and arrested her on previous Vermont charges and as a fugitive from justice.
For the welfare check incident, the Grafton County Attorney’s Office filed over 20 charges — including felonies, misdemeanors and violations — in Grafton County Superior Court in April.
Barton has returned to full duty, Chief David Appleby confirmed earlier this month.
On the reckless conduct with a deadly weapon charge, a Class-B felony, Garrison was sentenced to one year in jail, with the potential for several months of her sentence to be suspended If she completes the FIRRM program at the jail.
The charge also carried $8,100 in restitution. She has already served about five months in jail. The suspended time is conditioned upon her good behavior, requiring her to stay out of trouble, complete all court requirements, and pay the restitution.
For the misdemeanors of disobeying an officer and conduct after an accident, Garrison was sentenced to 12 months in jail, of which four months is to be served – concurrent with each other- but consecutive to the felony reckless conduct with a deadly weapon charge.
The balance of that suspended time the time will remain suspended for three years upon Garrison’s good behavior as well as acceptance into a Residential Treatment Facility with secure transport from the House of Corrections.
For the misdemeanors of obstructing government administration and making false reports to law enforcement, the 12-month sentences will be suspended completely for good behavior and compliance with all terms and conditions of the order for a period of three years. These sentences would be served consecutive to the time she has already served if imposed.
The simple assault charge, carrying a maximum of five years and minimum of two years in state prison, will all be suspended for seven years, and Garrison shall remain on probation for two years upon release from a residential treatment facility.
“Violation of probation or any of the terms of this sentence may result in revocation of probation and imposition of any sentence within the legal limits for the underlying offense,” the orders state.
Garrison will be placed on electronic monitoring through probation for a period of eight months upon release from jail, and must comply with treatment recommendations.
If Garrison does not comply with the terms of her sentence, she would be subject to up to 14 more months in jail and five years in state prison on these charges, not including any exposure from a potential violation of probation charge.
CLARIFICATION: Garrison’s remaining jail time may be reduced for following conditions of the court orders. A previous version of the story was unclear as to the details and requirements within each sentence.
