Pawcatuck woman charged with DWI after chasing down school bus, other driver
Stonington — Police charged a Pawcatuck woman with driving under the influence and driving to intimidate or harass Thursday afternoon after they say she chased down a school bus in her car and later tried to force another driver off the road after the driver honked the horn at her.
Shannon M. Lewis, 32, of 6 W. Arch St,. was also charged with reckless driving, breach of peace and risk of injury to a minor after the incident which began at 3:52 p.m. She was held on a $10,000 bond and arraigned Friday in New London Superior Court where she was released on a promise to appear on June 27.
Police said they began receiving multiple calls of a car driving erratically in the area of Liberty and Morgan streets and then a call about a disturbance in the area of Morton and Louden avenues. Police said witnesses described Lewis as being involved in both incidents.
According to police, Lewis was trying to get her child off the bus after being late to pick up the child at school. They said she drove recklessly trying to track down the bus, prompting calls to the police station. When Lewis found the bus, police say she turned around and pulled up behind it. She then got out of her car, yelling and screaming and took her child off the bus when it stopped on Morgan Street.
She then drove off and cut through the St. Michael’s church parking lot and tried to pull out in front of another driver who honked the horn at her. Police said she then chased down that driver and tried to force the car off the road. Police were able to apprehend Lewis and said field tests revealed she was driving under the influence. Police said the child’s father took custody of the child. Police continue to investigate the incident.
Lewis has previous convictions, including one for possession of narcotics in connection with a 2015 incident and felony assault in 2007 in Westerly. In 2015 she was charged by Stonington police with reckless driving and risk of injury to a minor. The outcome of that case is not shown on the state judicial data base.
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