Woman faces multiple charges after allegedly fighting deputies, damaging patrol car

FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. – A Forsyth County woman faces numerous charges after authorities said she resisted arrest, allegedly damaged a patrol vehicle and possessed methamphetamine during a June traffic stop.

According to the Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office, Deputy Brecher conducted a traffic stop in June on a vehicle displaying a drive-out tag that was not registered to the vehicle.

During the stop, Mabesty Espinal approached deputies and identified the man being arrested as her husband. The Sheriff’s Office said Espinal initially provided deputies with a false name and date of birth.

Another deputy checked the tag on the vehicle Espinal had been driving and determined the vehicle was unregistered and uninsured.

When deputies attempted to take Espinal into custody, she allegedly began fighting with them. It took four deputies to place her in handcuffs, according to authorities. During a search of her pockets, deputies reportedly found a baggie containing methamphetamine.

Authorities said Espinal continued resisting and refused to enter a patrol vehicle. Once inside, she allegedly screamed and repeatedly struck her head against the vehicle’s partition.

She later slipped out of her handcuffs and allegedly used them to strike the divider, damaging its metal and plastic components.

At one point, Espinal stopped screaming and became unresponsive. Deputy Brecher determined she was breathing, and once deputies arrived at the jail, medical aid was provided. EMS subsequently transported Espinal to a hospital.

After being medically cleared, authorities said Espinal resumed fighting and screaming. Deputies reportedly had to carry her from the hospital, and she allegedly continued resisting as they placed her back into the patrol vehicle.

During the second trip to the jail, Espinal allegedly slipped out of her handcuffs again and struck the patrol car’s divider. Authorities said she also ripped a GPS device and its cables from the vehicle, used the device to strike the rear windshield and pulled foam from the center divider.

Espinal faces two counts of simple battery against an officer, two counts of simple assault, two counts of interference with government property, possession of methamphetamine, obstruction of a law enforcement officer, expired or no license plate, giving a false name, address or date of birth, and failure to maintain insurance.

Authorities also said Espinal had active warrants out of Cherokee, Fulton and Gwinnett counties.

She remains in custody at the Forsyth County Jail.