Police Say Woman Lied About Driving After Jonesboro Crash

JONESBORO, Ark. — A woman faces a felony firearm allegation and a drug-related DWI allegation after police say intersection camera footage showed she had been driving a vehicle involved in a crash, contradicting her account to officers.

Jessica L. Barber appeared in court Oct. 14 following an Oct. 13 crash at East Johnson Avenue and Old Greensboro Road. No injuries were reported, according to a probable cause affidavit.

Camera Footage Identified Driver, Police Say

Officers found Barber standing on the passenger side of the vehicle when they arrived. Another person was standing on the driver’s side, and officers spoke with that person as well, the affidavit states.

Police later reviewed intersection camera footage that they say showed Barber getting out of the driver’s seat after the crash and walking to the passenger side. The affidavit alleges she lied to officers about being the driver.

Officers described Barber as talking rapidly, being unsteady on her feet, sweating heavily and having bloodshot eyes. After conducting field sobriety tests, officers concluded she was impaired by drugs, according to the affidavit.

Barber told officers she had smoked marijuana and that it would show up on a test, the affidavit states. The document does not include a toxicology result.

Officers obtained consent to search the vehicle and found a firearm, according to the affidavit. Barber said the gun belonged to someone else and that she thought she could be around it because it was not hers, police allege. The affidavit states she has a prior felony conviction.

Bond Set at $15,000

The first-appearance paperwork lists possession of a firearm by certain persons due to a prior felony conviction, a Class D felony; DWI involving drugs; careless and prohibited driving/endangering the welfare of passengers; and driving without a license.

Bond was set at $15,000 cash or surety. As conditions of bond, Barber was ordered to wear an alcohol-monitoring ankle device and refrain from consuming alcohol or using illegal drugs.

The Oct. 14 order notes a prior DWI conviction from 2019 and states that the current allegation may qualify as a second DWI offense within a 10-year lookback period.

Her next court appearance is scheduled for 8:30 a.m. Nov. 23 at the Craighead County Courthouse in Jonesboro.

The allegations have not been proven in court.