A Florida woman faces felony charges after coughing on the face of a paramedic, claiming she had the coronavirus. The woman was in the process of being arrested for assaulting her boyfriend when she sprayed “copious amounts of saliva” on a paramedic, according to police.

Police were responding to a domestic violence call on Wednesday, March 18, in the Orlando suburb of Lady Lake when they encountered the victim. According to the man, who was sporting a broken nose, he had been attacked by his girlfriend, LaDonald Shakkie Holmes. (Related: Spring-breakers pack Florida, Texas beaches as pandemic threatens societal collapse.)

The man had been lying in bed with Holmes, 38, at a home on Berchfield Road in Lady Lake according to an arrest report from the Lake County Sheriff’s Office, when the latter turned to him asking if he wanted to have sex with her. However, the report then states that the victim refused to have sex with her because, according to him, she was planning to leave him to get back together with her ex-husband.

At this point, the report states that Homes became “very agitated,” assaulting the victim, first “round house” kicking him in the nose and then punching it. The attack resulted in the victim’s nose breaking after which, the report that he “started bleeding all over himself and the residence,” before leaving the residence and calling 911.

“It should be noted the arrestee is a blackbelt in martial arts,” the officers added.

Officers thought Holmes was suffering a medical episode

When a police officer attempted to arrest Holmes, she was lying in bed and refusing to answer questions.  When the officer tried to take her to his police cruiser, she would proceed to go limp and fall to the ground. Concerned that she may have been suffering from a medical episode, the officer proceeded to contact Lake Emergency Medical Services for an ambulance.

When the paramedics arrived, they sought to evaluate Holmes, however, she became physically combative. The paramedics eventually forced to sedate Holmes to be able to place her on a stretcher. It was while she was being placed onto the stretcher where Holmes shouted “I have the coronavirus” and then proceeded to cough on the paramedic who administered the sedative. According to the report, “copious amounts of saliva” landed on the paramedic.

Following the incident, Holmes was subsequently transported to the Leesburg Regional Medical Center for further evaluation, including whether or not she actually has the disease. The court filing for her arrest, however, did not indicate whether or not she tested positive for the coronavirus. In addition, the affidavits did not reveal what treatment, if any, was afforded to the paramedic she coughed on. Neither did the reports say anything about her boyfriend’s broken nose.

Charged with felony battery and released on bond

After being released from the hospital, Holmes was booked at Lake County Jail. She was charged with one count of felony battery for attacking her boyfriend and another count of battery on a law enforcement officer for coughing on the paramedic.

According to Florida law, felony battery is defined as intentionally touching or striking another person against their will in a manner that causes great bodily harm, permanent disability, or permanent disfigurement. The offense is counted as Third-Degree Felony punishable by up to five years in prison, five years of probation and a $5,000 fine. Meanwhile, battery on a law enforcement officer is also counted as a Third-Degree Felony and carries the same penalties.

Lake County Sheriff’s office records show that Holmes, who has had prior convictions for battery, has since been released on a $7,000 bond. She is scheduled to be arraigned on April 13.

Sources include:

TheSmokingGun.com 1

TheSmokingGun.com 2

FLSenate.gov

LCSO.org