A terrifying afternoon turned into a nightmare on a quiet Washington street—a 56-year-old woman allegedly chased a boy on a dirt bike, drove onto the sidewalk, and tried to run him down. The child escaped unharmed, but the horror didn't end there.
Wendy A. Clemente's silver sedan tore down a residential sidewalk at 5:05 p.m., hunting the young rider. A witness caught the entire chase on video, giving deputies a crystal-clear description of the suspect and her vehicle. The hunt for Clemente began immediately.
Just one mile away, a homeowner watching his security cameras spotted a woman trying every door handle on his property. He called 911. Deputies arrived and found Clemente standing in the driveway—and they took her into custody without further incident.
In the interrogation room, Clemente denied everything. She claimed she'd only stopped to let her dog socialize with other dogs. She insisted she didn't know the homeowner and had no memory of chasing the boy. But her story crumbled fast.
Deputies noticed clear signs of impairment. She first denied drinking, then admitted to consuming alcohol. When officers tried to place her in a patrol car, she resisted and even tried to kick a deputy. A search warrant was obtained for a blood sample as part of the DUI investigation.
Clemente was booked into Spokane County Jail on charges of attempted first-degree assault, DUI, and criminal trespass. But in a jaw-dropping twist, a court commissioner ordered her released the very next day—on her own recognizance, no bond required.
No one was injured in either incident. But the community is left shaken, wondering how someone accused of deliberately trying to hit a child could walk free in less than 24 hours.
