A woman based in Montana was arrested after allegedly plowing her car through a religious group during a demonstration.
According to KTVQ, Genevienne Rancuret, 55, was arrested and charged with eight counts of felony criminal mischief, driving under the influence (DUI) and assault with a weapon.
This came after Jamee Wagenmann, one of the witnesses on the scene, called the Billings Police Department following the driver’s attempt to hit the religious group “Israelites for Christ” several times on Saturday around 12:30 p.m. through the intersection of Sixth Avenue north and North 27th.
During the demonstration, the group was speaking through an amplifier and holding signs, according to police spokesperson, Lt. Matt Lennick, via ABC News.
“I just kind of saw this white Jeep fly by me and jump onto the sidewalk, straight at the group of people that were there,” Wagenmann told KTVQ on Sunday. “The first thing that I thought was they lost control and they were in a wreck.”
Wagenmann’s mind quickly changed when she saw Rancure attempt to hit the group with her.
“(Drove) into the Albertsons parking lot and then drove straight at them from behind, like trying to catch them not paying attention. Screaming, even cars were honking. It was chaos,” she recalled.
She also noted it was “clearly a group” because “they were all wearing purple.”
The police revealed one of the members, a 45-year-old man sustained minor injuries, per the outlet.
According to the police, Rancuret fled the scene after committing the crime. However, the agency said she was found two hours later and was taken into custody at the Yellowstone County Detention Facility.
The case has been forwarded to the FBI by the police and is currently under review with the Yellowstone County Attorney’s Office. A motive for the crime is unknown.
