She was already under arrest — and then she coughed on a Florida deputy, cops say
A Jacksonville woman is accused of coughing on a deputy after claiming to have COVID-19.
Sarah McCord, 35, was arrested and charged with corruption by threat against a public servant in late March, according to the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office. Court records show the threat charge was recently dropped in favor of battery on a police officer.
What led to the previous charge being dropped is unclear.
McCord, who had just been arrested and charged with domestic battery, was on her way to UF Health on March 24 at the time of the incident. The deputy went to remove her from the police car when she “deliberately coughed in the his face and stated ‘I have coronavirus,’” according to her arrest report. She was so close to him that he felt her breath on his face, police said.
The cough was captured on the deputy’s body camera, JSO says.
It’s unclear if she actually had coronavirus, however, News4Jax reported that the deputy is OK.
McCord’s original arrest stems from allegations that she violently pushed two of her roommates, one of which was her sister, and beat up a third, according to a separate arrest report. Those charges are still pending.
As of Monday afternoon, McCord was being held in a Jacksonville jail on $14,512 bond.
A review of McCord’s criminal history yielded several previous misdemeanor convictions for fighting, disorderly intoxication and domestic battery since 2012.
This story was originally published May 11, 2020 at 4:22 PM.
