The Roanoke Rapids Police Department has announced the arrest of an intoxicated driver who allegedly assaulted a police officer. Around 10:40 p.m. on January 3, 2024, officers with RRPD responded to the area of West 2nd and Vance Streets in response to a white Honda driving through someone’s yard. At the scene, officers located the vehicle in a grassy part of Medlin Elementary School.

53-year-old Avis Rochon Johnson was standing next to the driver’s door, according to authorities. Officers noticed a strong odor of alcohol coming from Johnson and concluded that she was impaired. Police say Johnson refused to submit to field sobriety testing. Johnson was arrested and taken to the Police Department for an Intoxilyzer breath analysis.

RRPD said Johnson refused so a search warrant was obtained to get a blood alcohol analysis performed at a medical facility. She was transported to ECU Health North to get a blood sample taken. Police say Johnson became combative at the hospital and pushed an officer into the wall before being subdued.

Avis Rochon Johnson has been charged with DWI, Open Container, Assault on a Government Officer, Simple Assault, Communicating Threats, and Second-Degree Trespassing. She was booked into the Halifax County Detention Center with a $2,500 bond.