Case Closed for Pepper-Sprayed Woman, 77

SALEM, Va. — A judge dismissed charges Wednesday against a 77-year-old woman who was hit with pepper spray and dragged from her car by a police officer after parking on the wrong side of the road.

After a hearing, Judge George Harris dismissed reckless driving and obstruction charges against Goldie Akers without explanation.

Akers was arrested Nov. 8 after driving across the road from her home to pick up her mail from her mailbox.

Akers told the judge she did that routinely because it was difficult for her to walk down her driveway.

Roanoke County Officer R.L. Metcalf stopped Akers when he saw her car facing the wrong way and sprayed her through her cracked window after she pulled her car back into the driveway and refused to speak to him.

He took her to jail in handcuffs.

Metcalf said he feared Akers would use the car as a weapon.

The officer was fired over the incident, and last week county officials agreed to pay Akers $45,000 for a shoulder injury.

Akers now rents a post office box.