Officials: Crash Leads To Newark Officer Being Punched, Two Charged With DUI

On June 7, 2019, at approximately 12:50 a.m., Newark Police Officers came upon what they believed to be a disabled vehicle on the Christina Parkway bridge.

When they stopped to investigate, they discovered a 20-year-old Middletown, New York woman, later identified as Zenovia Lee, had driven off the roadway, through the trees and down into a ravine.

As officers investigated the crash, they discovered that Lee was under the influence and she was subsequently placed under arrest, police said.

During the arrest of this individual, the driver of the second vehicle, Asake Banks-Bethea, 24, of Wilmington, who was a friend to the driver in the ravine, became combative and punched one of the officers as they placed her friend under arrest for the DUI, officials said.

The second defendant was quickly taken into custody and was also found to be under the influence. Both were transported to the Newark Police Department for arrest processing.

The driver of the vehicle in the ravine was charged with DUI. The driver of the second vehicle was charged with resisting arrest, offensive touching of a law enforcement officer, disorderly conduct, DUI and possession of marijuana. Both were released on OR bonds.

The officer was uninjured.

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