DUI drama in parking lot of Athens Publix

By Joe Johnson

Jessica Vencherra Johnson, 41, of Stonybrook Circle, was arrested last week for a drunk-driving incident that occurred in the parking lot of Publix on

Barnett Shoals Road.

Police said they responded to the scene at about 5 p.m. September 30th on a report of a vehicle collision.

They arrived to find a Honda Accord up against a Honda CRV with Publix employees standing around both cars.

One of the Accord’s tire was missing and another was flat, and from score marks on the pavement police could see where it had been driven prior to striking the CRV.

The employees told police that Johnson possibly was intoxicated because she nearly fell when getting out of her car. They also alerted police to a child who was inside.

When communicating with central dispatch officers learned that the Accord was being sought by the Georgia State Patrol for reckless driving on the Athens Perimeter.

Just then Johnson began to drive away and ignoring officers shouts for her to stop, the Accord crashed into a parked van, then continued on through the parking lot.

One officer chased after with emergency lights and sirens on until the Accord came to a literal grinding halt, apparently because of its transmission giving out.

An officer had to grab the keys from the ignition after Johnson ignored repeated commands to turn off her car.

Upon exiting her car, Johnson handed a cup of an alcoholic beverage to a Trooper who had arrived on scene and then laid down on the ground.

While all that was happening an officer kept the 10-year-old boy distracted as he screamed for his mother who was being questioned by police.

After the GSP trooper conducted a DUI investigation Johnson was arrested on charges of driving under the influence of alcohol, endangering a child while DUI, obstruction of law enforcement, driving on a suspended license, and leaving the scene of an accident.

She was also booked into jail on a misdemeanor probation violation.

A hold on her release from jail was requested by the Broome County Sheriff’s Office in New York.

Police said they had trouble getting a family member who was willing to take custody of the boy until a representative from the Department of Family and Children Services convinced the father to respond to the scene.