by Chris Cannon
FRANKLIN, Tenn. - A 40-year-old Franklin woman was involved in a wreck Thursday night. Police arrested her for DUI, and what happened in the back of the patrol car forced them to add bribery charges to her arrest record.
Officials with the Franklin Police Department said Dana Rich slammed into the back of a stopped car so hard at the intersection of Murfreesboro Road and Mack Hatcher Parkway, it sent the other car into the roadway.
One person was injured in the wreck and Rich was arrested on DUI charges and put in the back of a patrol car.
While in handcuffs, and being recorded by a camera located in the back the car, Franklin Police said Rich started to bribe the arresting officer.
"How much do you get paid for this? I'll pay you [expletive]. I'd write you a check for a grand just to not do this," Dana Rich said on the in-car camera.
The officer then asked Rich if she was bribing him and she went on to repeat the offer.
"I would… write you a check for a thousand dollars, right now. Yeah, I swear to God I would. I got it in my purse," the Franklin mother assured the officer.
After another mention of a $1000 check, Rich realized there was a camera in the back of the car, recording everything she had said.
"You've got this all on tape, and everybody's going to think it's a bribe. Now I'm probably going to be in more trouble than life itself," Rich said.
The woman then changed her story and tried to take-back her statement.
"Forget it, I'm not writing him a check for a thousand dollars. Just joking," Rich said to the camera.
Franklin police have added felony bribery of a public servant charges to Rich's record.
"The fact that this woman repeatedly offered to take her checkbook out and write this police officer a check for one thousand dollars in exchange for letting her go, that was insulting to a police officer and insulting to anyone who wears a badge," said Sgt. Charlie Warner.
Rich faces DUI, violation of implied consent law, felony bribery, failure to exercise due care, and no proof of insurance charges. She is out of jail on $9500 a bond.
The typical bond for a misdemeanor DUI charge is $1500.
Rich will be in Williamson County court on December 22.
The injured person in the wreck police have charged Rich in has been treated and released from the hospital.
Email: ccannon@newschannel5.com
