On Monday, January 22, Lucia Costa, 22, of New Windsor, pled guilty to Assault in the Second Degree and Driving While Intoxicated in Ulster County Court. The convictions stemmed from a traffic stop on March 22, 2023 by the New Paltz Police Department. During the traffic stop, officers observed her to be visibly intoxicated and asked her to step out of the vehicle, at which time she took the police on a high-speed chase reaching speeds of 85 mph in a posted 30 mph zone.

Once the police succeeded in safely stopping the vehicle, Costa became physically combative and began kicking and spitting at officers. She then assaulted a female New Paltz Police officer, who suffered a torn labrum cartilage in her shoulder.

Defendant was taken to the hospital after she intentionally banged her head against a bench at the police station, splitting her head open. Defendant’s blood alcohol content at the time was 0.16, twice the legal limit, and blood tests also showed active metabolites of cannabis. This is the second time defendant has been charged with assaulting an officer.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Victoria Lang. Costa was represented by Newburgh attorney William Cobb. Sentencing is scheduled for April 2, 2024 before Judge Bryan Rounds.