LASALLE, Colo. — A 23-year-old woman arrested late this past month in LaSalle is facing additional assault charges after emergency medical personnel said she was spitting on them, claiming she had COVID-19.
About 9:45 p.m. Aug. 28, police responded to a disturbance involving a woman who was fighting with restaurant staff in the 100 block of 3rd Avenue in LaSalle. When police arrived, they found a victim trying to hold down 23-year-old Bethany Wood, according to an affidavit for her arrest. Police placed Wood in handcuffs and held her down on the ground as she pushed against them, the affidavit states.
A victim said he was at his vehicle after work when Wood came running around the corner and into the building. When he and another employee went to talk with Wood, she became violent and started punching the male victim, he later told police. The other employee, a woman, said she was calling 911 when Wood knocked her to the ground. A third victim said she came out of the restaurant and tried pulling Wood, who had her hands on the second victim’s neck, off the second victim. Wood swung at the third victim, breaking her glasses, according to court documents.
As police interviewed the victims, Wood was becoming more and more violent towards emergency personnel, according to police. They eventually strapped her to a gurney and restrained her head to keep her from biting them.
Wood was taken to North Colorado Medical Center by ambulance. Police followed and noticed a spit hood was placed on Wood’s head.
Medical personnel said Wood was violent as they worked to treat her, spitting on them and trying to bite and hit them. Wood told medical personnel she had COVID-19 at that point, medical personnel told police.
After medical clearance, Wood was taken to the Weld County Jail. She has since been released.
Wood has an advisement hearing 9 a.m. Oct. 29 in Weld District Court.
———
©2020 the Greeley Tribune (Greeley, Colo.)