By Bruno Matarazzo Jr.
BOXFORD — Three police officers suffered injuries on Wednesday at the hands of a 50-year-old woman charged with drunken driving.
Police arrested Kelly Petter of 30 Silvermine Road, Boxford, and charged her with drunken driving, resisting arrest, disorderly conduct, assault with a dangerous weapon, and three counts of assault and battery on a police officer.
Police responded near the area of 40 Joseph Smith Way at 7:35 p.m. after multiple 911 calls from motorists reporting an erratic driver.
Police Lt. Robert Hazelwood said Petter drove up onto a driveway and two motorists boxed her in so she couldn't leave until police arrived.
Patrolman Brian Neeley was the first to arrive on scene and, as he spoke to the witnesses who boxed Petter in, she gunned the car toward Neeley.
Neeley, who had his back to Petter's car, was alerted by the witnesses to the danger, Hazelwood said.
Neeley was later injured when Petter was asked to lift her leg 6 inches from the ground as part of a field sobriety test.
Instead of lifting her leg, Hazelwood said she kicked Neeley in the leg.
Patrolman Michele Nowack was injured when Petter bit her in the hand while in the police station lockup. Patrolman Joseph Borodawka was also kicked when he was taking the handcuffs off Petter.
Petter was held overnight and arraigned yesterday at Haverhill District Court.
