Athens Woman Arrested After Ramming Patrol Car During Attempted Car Theft Near Alabama-Tennessee Line

Bethany Paige Thornton Garcia, a 43-year-old woman from Athens, Alabama, was arrested after attempting to steal a vehicle in the Lester community near the Alabama-Tennessee state line. Deputies from the Limestone County and Giles County Sheriff's Offices responded around 3:30 a.m. to a report of a suspicious woman and found Garcia inside a garage trying to steal a vehicle. When confronted, she refused to comply and tried to flee in the stolen vehicle, striking a Giles County patrol car twice before crashing through a garage wall, causing significant property damage and disabling the patrol vehicle. Garcia was charged with driving under the influence (DUI), third-degree burglary, and first-degree criminal mischief. Sheriff Joshua McLaughlin praised the deputies' professionalism and restraint, crediting their swift actions with preventing further danger and expressing gratitude for the strong collaboration between the two counties. Fortunately, no injuries were reported during the incident.