Bee-zarre! Woman charged after allegedly attacking police with bees
Longmeadow, Massachusetts - A 55-year-old Massachusetts woman is facing multiple assault and battery charges for allegedly siccing bees on sheriff's deputies as they tried to serve an eviction notice. And some of the officers were allergic to bees!
Deputies from the Hampden County Sheriff's Office went to a home in Longmeadow last Wednesday where they were met with protesters, per the Associated Press. The police officers were trying to serve an eviction notice.
Shorty after officers arrived, Rorie S. Woods (55), who lives in Hadley some 25 miles away, pulled up in an SUV towing a trailer with bee hives.
Per the police report, Woods started shaking the hives in an effort to provoke the insects. She even broke the cover off of one hive, which created an angry swarm of hundreds of bees.
One officer was stung right off the bat.
Woods, who'd donned beekeeping garb to protect herself, also put a hive in front of the house the protesters were trying to protect from eviction.
She was eventually handcuffed, but not before more officers were stung, including three who were allergic to bees.
In response to learning that some of the officers were allergic to the animals, Woods reportedly said, "Oh, you’re allergic? Good."
Bee attack on law enforcement in Massachusettes sees officers grateful to be alive
As a result of the bizarre bee incident, Hampden County Sheriff Nick Cocchi, said, "We had one staff member go the hospital, and, luckily, he was all right."
"Never in all my years of leading the Hampden County Sheriff’s Civil Process Division have I seen something like this," Robert Hoffman, chief deputy of the Civil Process Division, said in a statement, per NBC Boston.
"I’m just thankful no one died because bee allergies are serious," he added.
Woods has been charged with multiple counts of assault and battery. She pled not guilty at her arraignment in Springfield District Court and was released without bail per, the AP.
According to Cocchi, if anyone had suffered worse injuries from the bee attack, Woods would have faced more serious charges.
Cover photo: Hampden County Sheriff's Office