A former Rainsville Police Officer has turned herself in after she was charged with driving under the influence.

According to Senior Trooper Brandon Bailey, Mercedes Rugart was charged with a DUI after the 2021 Chevy Tahoe she was driving left the roadway, struck a culvert, and a utility pole then overturned.  The crash happed at 6;00am on Tuesday, July the 26th on Alabama 35 near Ryan Street in Jackson County.

A spokesperson for the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office confirmed Rugart did indeed have had warrants out from ALEA stemming from a DUI incident, and that she turned herself in on January 7th.

Rainsville Police Chief Michael Edmondson confirmed Rugart was an officer there, but she resigned roughly a month ago.

Jackson County deputies said Rugart turned herself in around 4:00pm on Saturday – and was released around 4:30pm on a $1,000 bond.

The investigation is ongoing.

(WAFF)