Photo: Elizabeth Violet Sanders
A Bull Shoals woman found out claiming to be a “sovereign citizen” does not mean you won’t go to jail. Baxter County deputies arrested 28-year-old Elizabeth Violet Sanders following a traffic stop in Midway early Wednesday morning.
According to the report, while talking to the driver, the deputy noticed the female passenger was not wearing a seat belt. Her asked the woman, later identified as Sanders, for an ID card. She stated she didn’t have any ID, so the deputy asked for her name and date of birth. Sanders told the deputy she is a sovereign citizen, she knew her rights and did not have to give the deputy any information. Sovereign citizens believe they – not judges, juries, law enforcement or elected officials – should decide what laws to obey and which ones to ignore.
The deputy informed Sanders because she was riding in the front seat and not wearing a seat belt, she was violating Arkansas state law. The deputy asked Sanders to exit the vehicle because she was being arrested for obstructing governmental operations, but she refused, again saying she knew her rights. The deputy asked one more time and was cursed at by Sanders. Then, as law enforcement tried to remove Sanders from the vehicle, she kicked one of them.
While being processed at the Baxter County Detention Center, law enforcement found a white powdery substance in Sanders’ purse, which field tested positive for methamphetamine.
Sanders is charged with battery on a police officer, criminal impersonation, possession of a controlled substance, resisting arrest, disorderly conduct, obstructing governmental operations and not wearing a seat belt. Her bond is set at $5,000.
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