Burlington woman arrested after police break window during DWI stop

Burlington police said officers had to block in a car, break a window and physically remove a 39-year-old woman during a Thursday morning DWI stop on East Webb Avenue after she refused orders to get out. The vehicle was parked on the sidewalk and facing the wrong direction when officers arrived in the 1100 block about 8:30 a.m. on June 25, 2026.

Police identified the driver as Vanessa Tekesha Benjamin of Burlington. Officers said they saw signs she may have been impaired and ordered her out of the vehicle, but she would not comply. Police then kept the car from moving into oncoming traffic, broke a window and removed her from the vehicle.

Benjamin was charged with felony malicious conduct by a prisoner, assault on a government official, driving while impaired and resisting, delaying and obstructing. Police said she allegedly assaulted officers and spat on them during the arrest.

The case adds another example of how Burlington is handling impaired-driving calls after the city launched a dedicated DWI enforcement unit earlier this year. In February, Burlington police said the two-officer team had already helped increase DWI arrests across the city, signaling a sharper enforcement push on roads that carry both commuter traffic and pedestrian use.

The stop also landed in a part of Burlington where sidewalk safety is already a city priority. Burlington’s transportation bond totals $21.5 million and includes money for sidewalk repairs and filling sidewalk gaps to improve safety, walkability and accessibility. A vehicle sitting on a sidewalk in that setting turned the call from a suspicious-activity report into a direct hazard for people walking, driving and responding to the scene.

Anyone with information about the incident is asked to call the Burlington Police Department at (336) 229-3500. Anonymous tips can also be sent to Alamance County-Wide Crimestoppers at (336) 229-7100 or through the P3 Tips mobile app.