PERRYVILLE – A Sparta, Illinois woman who was a suspect in a hit and run traffic crash in Perryville, has been charged with assaulting two Perryville police officers at the police station following her arrest.
According to a news release from the Perryville Police Department, officers responded to the area of Highway 51 and Highway 61 at 7:33 p.m. Thursday evening to investigate a report of a hit and run traffic crash.
The officers located the alleged striking vehicle and took its driver into custody.
She was identified as 30-year-old Starla S. Balsom.
Police say while she was being taken to the station, Balsom threatened multiple times to kill officers and once at the station she attempted to assault a male officer. Then, when a female officer was attempting to dress Balsom out, she was struck by Balsom in the face with a closed fist, and Balsom began pulling the officer’s hair. The officer was transported to the emergency room where she was treated and released for non-life-threatening injuries.
Balsom has been charged with the assault in the 3rd Degree, special victim-Class D felony, assault in the 4th Degree, special victim-Class A misdemeanor, resisting arrest-Class A misdemeanor, leaving the scene of a motor vehicle accident-Class A misdemeanor and unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia-Class D misdemeanor.
The warrant holds a cash only bond of $50,000.
Balsom was served her warrant and transferred to the Perry County Sheriff’s Office. No court date has been set.