-
Kayla Rapone
Kayla Lee Rapone, 31, allegedly left the scene of an accident before assaulting a Nederland police officer, according to a probable cause affidavit used to indict the accused of a felony charge of retaliation on Jan. 19.
According to a report by Officer Ryan Perriraz with the Nederland Police Department, officers were initially called to the Airport Inn on Highway 69 in reference to a possible leaving the scene of an accident on Dec. 13. The tipster reportedly advised Central Dispatch that a yellow passenger car had possibly struck a white pickup and continued to travel northbound on the Highway 69 feeder road. The citizen then said that the yellow vehicle came to a stop in the parking lot of Airport Inn.
A second witness called Central Dispatch from the area of the parking lot and said the vehicle allegedly had damage to the front tire, and the suspect was attempting to leave the parking lot.
Upon Perriraz’s arrival, the officer reports he observed Rapone sitting alone in the driver seat of a yellow Pontiac. When talking to the suspect, Perriraz said, he observed Rapone to have slurred speech and an odor of an unknown alcohol filled the air when she spoke.
Glassy, red eyes noted in the suspect further fueled the officer’s suspicion that the Pontiac’s driver was intoxicated, as did the “belligerent” mannerisms exhibited by the suspect, and her profanity-laced and loud commentary towards the officer. Perriraz reported that he instructed Rapone to exit the vehicle multiple times; however, she reportedly became “belligerent” and would not follow instructions.
When Rapone eventually exited the auto, Perriraz further detailed, the suspect allegedly had to use the back of her vehicle to maintain her balance and the encounter was marked with periods of Rapone swaying back and forth, being argumentative, failing to follow instructions, and refusing to take field sobriety tests.
Perriraz said attempted to conduct the Horizontal Gaze Nystagmus (HGN) Test and Standard Field Sobriety Tests, some of which she would not cooperate in taking.
Rapone was arrested on suspicion of intoxication, either alcoholic or narcotic, to the extent that she could not operate a motor vehicle safely on a public roadway.
Rapone was transported to the Medical Center to obtain a medical clearance for the soon-to-be inmate. En route, the officer reported, Rapone allegedly continued to yell and curse the officer, threaten to kill the officer and his family, and spit on the partition window in the vehicle.
After gaining medical clearance, Rapone was transported to the Jefferson County Jail. As of Jan. 21, Rapone is no longer in jail custody.