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Published 09:22 07 May 2026 GMT
'Ford Focus Karen' suffers instant karma after 'attempting to chase child on bike in her car'
The identity behind a Washington woman who has been accused of driving her Ford Focus at a young boy riding a bike has been made public.
She then tried to break into a property nearby, but a homeowner reported that she "faceplanted" because she was too drunk.
The driver, dubbed 'Ford Focus Karen', is now facing DUI and attempted assault charges for her actions, in addition to criminal trespass charges for allegedly trying to rob a home, said local police.
She was seen chasing the child down a Cheney street on April 28, as witnesses saw her accelerating the vehicle at the young cyclist.
Police were already looking for the erratic driver before homeowner Lloyd Gaines, 48, called 911, as police rushed to the home after he said that she was at the wheel of a silver Ford Focus.
Who is the 'Ford Focus Karen'?
The woman has been revealed to be US Army veteran Wendy Clemente, 56, who Gaines said started hammering at the door of his home, as both he and his wife were not home.
Speaking to the Daily Mail, he shared that he was alerted to the apparent break-in attempt by his Ring doorbell camera.
Gaines told the publication: "She was smashing the front door, and she stumbled off because she looked so drunk,
"She fell off my porch and faceplanted."
He claimed that Clemente looked heavily intoxicated as events unfolded, as she managed to get into the home and go through his belongings.
Gaines said that while she "tossed stuff around" and looked at his wife's jewelry collection, she didn't steal anything before she left and was apprehended.
He claimed that "she was stumbling around," and that when she moved to the front porch, she was "bouncing off trees."
Clemente's reasoning for breaking in
Gaines explained that he has a Donald Trump flag and American flags on display outside his home, and that Clemente had apparently noticed them prior to breaking in.
He recalled: "She asked me, 'Where is your Trump flag?' and I told her it rained last night so I put the flags away."
Gaines said she replied: "'So, you're worried God is going to p**s on them too?'"
Speaking to authorities after being arrested, the army veteran explained that she was the "sole breadwinner" for her family, which has been a burden, according to court records.
It detailed that she admitted to using alcohol to cope with the pressure and that she was undergoing mental health treatment.
Clemente claimed that she broke into the home as she was looking for another dog for her own pooch to socialize with, after seeing "dogs in the fenced yard," and allegedly tried to greet them.
No recollection of driving at the boy
Clemente said she doesn't remember driving her Focus at a boy on a bike before breaking in, claiming at first that she didn't drink any alcohol.
She would soon backtrack, admitting she'd "consumed more alcohol than she probably should have."
Officers said they could smell an "odor of alcohol" on her breath and that there was an "obvious lack of coordination," and spoke with an "obvious slur" while displaying a "loss of fine motor function."
They reported that the veteran then tried to kick a deputy as she was being put in handcuffs.
Onlooking neighbors were left stunned, as they filmed a car reportedly driven by Clemente, accelerating towards a young boy on a dirt bike, tailing him down the sidewalk.
The video in question showed the 56-year-old pointing her car at the child and honking her horn several times on a residential street, as the child swerved out of the way.
A witness could be heard saying: "This woman is crazy," as the boy looked to have said something to the driver before she pointed the car at him.
Another witness yelled: "She's trying to run this. Oh my god. You're kidding, oh my god."
Some neighbors chased after the car as the boy rode away to safety.
Clemente is now facing charges of first-degree attempted assault, DUI, and criminal trespass, having been arraigned on April 29.
She was released as she didn't need to post bail - the veteran hasn't pleaded yet, and is next due in court on May 20.