JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – A 32-year-old Jacksonville woman who is accused of ramming the gate and glass doors at the Jacksonville Jaguars practice facility on Monday night also rammed a police cruiser before she tried to run off, according to the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office.
Meriem Ochoa, who identified herself as a student, is accused of driving under the influence (DUI), five counts of DUI property damage, aggravated assault on a police officer, resisting arrest without violence and criminal mischief.
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JSO said she caused $25,000 in damage at the Miller Electric Center.
According to a JSO arrest report, around 8 p.m. on Monday, Ochoa crashed her SUV through two iron security gates and two gate arms to get into the parking lot of the facility.
After entering the parking lot, a security guard said she drove up a paved sidewalk and crashed into the glass doors of the building. Ochoa then put the SUV in reverse and crashed into the doors two more times before JSO showed up, according to police.
A responding officer said when they got there, they parked their JSO cruiser behind the SUV to block Ochoa in. The officer said they got out of their cruiser, pointed their gun at her and told her to get out.
Instead of getting out, JSO said Ochoa put the SUV in reverse and rammed the JSO cruiser. Two JSO officers said they had to move out of the way to avoid being hit. One JSO officer said they got back into their cruiser and pushed the SUV further into the glass door to prevent her from driving off.
Ochoa eventually got out with her hands raised but then tried to run away, JSO said.
An officer was able to tackle Ochoa to the ground and put her in handcuffs, JSO said, but he hurt himself in the process. He was taken to UF Health with an injury to his left arm.
JSO said Ochoa displayed multiple signs of impairment and told police she thought she was going to class and had no memory of crashing into the doors. She was still in jail on Wednesday held on a $45,000 bond. Her arraignment is set for Jan. 31.
“The Miller Electric Center was damaged last night in what we understand to be an isolated incident and, thankfully, none of our staff or security were in that portion of the building. We are currently gathering information. We are mindful that there is an ongoing investigation and will have no further comment,” the Jaguars said in a statement to News4JAX on Tuesday.