A Warwick School Committee member and past chairwoman issued both an apology and a not guilty plea for a Feb. 18 drunken driving arrest and alleged assault of a police officer.

“I want to make folks aware that I was involved in an incident this weekend that resulted in my being arrested and charged with DUI and simple assault,” Bachus wrote in an online post on Feb. 22. “I am extremely embarrassed by this incident. It does not reflect who I am or whom I strive to be every day. I apologize to my family, friends, colleagues, and constituents. This incident will be addressed through our judicial system. I cannot comment further at this time.”

At an arraignment on March 2, Bachus, 60, of 208 Burt St., Warwick, entered not guilty pleas for charges of simple assault/battery and DUI (BAC unknown, first offense). She also pleaded not guilty on citations for refusal to submit to a chemical test (first offense) and a laned roadway violation.

Bachus was due in court for a pretrial conference on Monday, March 13, before Associate Judge James Caruolo, but the proceedings were continued to April 24.

“We are taking our time and evaluating the evidence to see how we’d like to proceed in court,” said Providence attorney Jason Knight, Bachus’ defense counsel.

At 9:51 p.m., Feb. 18, Warwick Police Officer Keara M. Enos was dispatched to 3275 Post Road after a caller reported Bachus’ pickup truck “speeding over the speed bumps” and swerving in front of Warwick City Hall.

Enos spotted the truck, which was allegedly swerving across the fog line, and initiated a traffic stop.

Two witnesses signed statements that they saw Bachus’ vehicle “constantly swerving” and “there were several instances where she was primarily driving in the break down lane.”

Enos initiated a traffic stop and identified the driver as Bachus.

“I immediately observed that Bachus’ speech was somewhat slurred, and I had difficulty understanding what she was saying at times,” Enos wrote in the arrest report. “As she spoke to me, I observed Bachus to have glossy and bloodshot eyes, and I detected the odor of an alcoholic beverage emanating from her breath as she spoke.”

Enos asked Bachus if she had consumed any alcohol and she alleged answered two glasses of rice wine (Japanese sake). She was asked to step out of the vehicle and informed Enos that she had numerous medical conditions.

She told police “multiple times, without being asked, that she was ‘a State worker,’” Enos wrote in the arrest report.

Bachus was asked to consent to a series of standardized field sobriety tests. Following the tests, she was arrested and transported to the Warwick Police Department.

At the department, Enos noted in the arrest report that Bachus was combative and reused to comply with direct commands. At one point she refused to stand, according to police, and screamed repeatedly.

“I was monitoring Officer Enos’s investigation and watched as Bachus continuously ignored and talked over Officer Enos,” WPD Headquarters Jailer Alex Mehta wrote in his report. “At this point in the investigation, Bachus had refused to sign the DUI implied Consent Form, refused to provide a breath sample, and refused to make a confidential phone call.”

As Enos re-read the consent form to Bachus, Mehta said she “yelled over her and stood up from the chair and start walking toward the corner of the room.”

After Bachus refused to take a chemical breath test, she allegedly struck Enos.

Mehta escorted Bachus back toward the chair, telling her to relax and sit down.

 “As I was escorting Bachus back she aggressively made fists and lifted both of her arms, striking Officer Enos with her closed fist in the arm,” Mehta wrote.

Bachus was secured in a cell and around 2 a.m., Feb. 19, she was released to a sober adult.

“The case did get continued to April 24,” said Warwick Police Chief Col. Bradford Connor. “The city solicitor is involved in the case and it is not their practice to discuss the case with media during the process.”