NORTH SMITHFIELD – A Coventry woman was charged by North Smithfield police with felony assault and driving to endanger after an incident last month where her car door reportedly knocked her ex-boyfriend’s girlfriend to the ground.
Carmen Ruth, 32, is also facing a misdemeanor charge of disorderly conduct related to the incident.
According to reports, the victim, a 31-year-old woman, walked into the station on Saturday, Nov. 5. She told police she lives at the Travelers Motel with her boyfriend and that the previous night, his ex-girlfriend came to pick him up. The victim said that she was standing by the rear driver side door of the vehicle when Ruth reversed the car and the door struck her, knocking her to the ground.
The woman reportedly said she initially didn’t call police because she doesn’t like police, but that her boss had advised her to make a report. She said she had a bump on her head and wanted to press charges.
Officers viewed surveillance video from the motel to verify the story, and located Ruth by phone. Ruth told police that the victim had been threatening her unborn baby, and that the woman threw herself to the ground when she reversed her car.
On Friday, Nov. 11, Ruth reported to the station and was arrested on an active warrant from the incident.
Ruth was released on a $5,000 personal recognizance bond and is due back in court for a pre-arraignment conference on Monday, Feb. 13.
