A Cheney, Washington, woman faces multiple criminal counts after deputies say she drove onto a neighborhood sidewalk and pursued a child on a dirt bike, then turned up at a nearby home where she was detained, according to the Spokane County Sheriff’s Office. The episode, captured on cellphone and home-security video, has prompted charges that include an alleged attempted assault and a suspected DUI.
Authorities say the incident began shortly after 6 p.m. on April 28 in the 7500 block of South Fruitvale Road, a residential area southwest of Spokane. Neighbors reported a vehicle driving aggressively through the street; investigators later obtained video showing a silver sedan moving onto the sidewalk while following a juvenile on a dirt bike. The child was not struck or hurt.
Roughly a half-hour later, deputies responding to a separate call about someone trying door handles at a home about a mile away found the same silver car parked in the driveway, along with the driver. Deputies identified her as 56-year-old Wendy A. Clemente and placed her under arrest after questioning.
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During the interaction, Clemente told officers she had been taking her dog out and had gone looking for other dogs for it to socialize with. She denied entering the house but later acknowledged having consumed alcohol, deputies said. When officers attempted to place her in a patrol vehicle she resisted and allegedly kicked at a deputy, leading to restraints and a warrant to collect a blood sample.
- Alleged offenses: first‑degree attempted assault, DUI, and first‑degree criminal trespass.
- Locations: 7500 block of South Fruitvale Road (initial driving incident); 10700 block of West Melville Road (suspected burglary attempt).
- Evidence: cellphone video of the sidewalk pursuit and live security-camera footage of the later driveway incident.
- Outcome so far: Clemente was booked into the Spokane County Jail and released after a first appearance, when a judge allowed release without bond.
The sheriff’s office handled both dispatch calls as part of the same investigative timeline and said deputies located Clemente at the second address after a resident reported someone checking exterior doors on a live feed. Video obtained by investigators appears to show the sedan approach the child on the sidewalk before accelerating and returning to the roadway.
Deputies stressed that the juvenile involved was unharmed. The case now advances through the local court system, where prosecutors will decide whether to pursue the first-degree charges.
Why this matters now: neighborhood safety and driver conduct remain core concerns for communities where children play outside. Incidents where a motor vehicle is used to intimidate or endanger pedestrians can lead to severe criminal penalties and prompt calls for increased patrols and local prevention measures.
Authorities provided the basic account in their public release; additional details, including any upcoming court dates or the results of toxicology testing ordered under warrant, have not yet been made public.
