Police say woman arrested after taking car, injuring two officers

UPDATE (March 30, 2026) -- ABC-7 obtained an affidavit detailing Ronnebaum's arrest. According to documents, officers watched her drink an alcoholic beverage while driving the stolen vehicle.

Documents said an officer turned on his lights to initiate a traffic stop. The officer saw her drink a large Twisted Tea can while leading officers into a pursuit.

At the 9000 block of Betel Drive, Ronnebaum crashed the car into two police cars. After officers ordered her to get out of the car, Ronnebaum drank from the Twisted Tea can again. Documents said officers then pulled her out of the car.

Documents said an officer observed Ronnebaum to be "out of it." The officer detected a smell of an alcoholic beverage on Ronnebaum's breath. The officer also said she slurred her speech and had glassy eyes.

According to documents, Ronnebaum told the officer she drank two Twisted Teas and one Four Loko. She consented to filed sobriety tests. The officer believed Ronnebaum was intoxicated while driving and arrested her for DWI.

Ronnebaum was sent to Sierra Providence East for a blood draw, documents said. The results are pending.

EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) - Two 3-year veterans of the El Paso Police Department received injuries after a pursuit of a woman accused of taken a parked vehicle.

It happened on March 25 just before 7 p.m. at a convenience store located at 3001 N. Yarbrough.

Police were called out to the store after a man reported that his SUV had been taken after he parked and went into the store.

Police officers found the SUV near Matamoros and Giles and tried to stop the driver, later identified as Vanessa Loreli Ronnebaum.

Ronnebaum refused to stop, according to police reports, and fled driving in both east and westbound lanes of traffic. Police say Ronnebaum "rammed the stolen vehicle into the driver's door of a police unit, causing both vehicles to be disabled".

She was arrested and booked into the El Paso County Detention Facility. Ronnebaum is charged with DWI, evading arrest w/vehicle, two counts of aggravated assault against a public servant, and theft of property (vehicle). The bonds total $115,000, according to jail records.

The two officers were taken to an area hospital for treatment and released the same day.