Often, when we hear about a crime on the news or read about one in the paper, it is a major incident involving one or more people in dire situations. What we don't often realize is that criminal offenses can happen in the most routine of situations, either due to a rising temper, an unfortunate set of circumstances, or a simple error in judgment.

This is what happened at the scene of a recent assault and car theft in the St. Louis area. According to police reports, two women were driving together to an undisclosed location when they got lost. They pulled their vehicle into a drugstore parking lot to determine how to get where they wanted to go.

As the women attempted to find the correct directions, their discussion escalated into a heated argument. The fight culminated with the woman behind the wheel of the vehicle assaulting the other woman. The second woman got out of the car and the driver took off. To make matters more confusing, the vehicle belonged to the second woman but was being driven by the first.

Later that morning, St. Louis police arrested the driver and transported her to the Ellisville Police Department. She was arrested and charged with 3rd degree assault and stealing a motor vehicle for driving away with her friend's car.

Police said that the second woman was not seriously injured in the assault.

This incident goes to show that virtually anyone can be charged with a crime at some point in their lives. Regardless of the severity of the charge, a criminal defense attorney can help ensure that you are not dealing with the repercussions of the crime for years to come.

Source: Ballwin-Ellisville Patch, "Police: Friends' Dispute Over Directions Leads to Assault, Car Theft," Feb. 4, 2012