Wisconsin Woman Bites Officer During Arrest: Police

JANESVILLE, WI — A Wisconsin woman bit an officer Tuesday while attempting to avoid arrest, according to police.

The incident occurred about 3:30 a.m., when a Janesville officer stopped a vehicle that was traveling with its lights off, police said. Shasta C. Howell, who was wanted on two counts of felony bail jumping and one count of driving a vehicle without the owner’s consent, also a felony, was riding in the front passenger seat, according to police. When law enforcement told Howell she was wanted on multiple charges, she resisted, police said.

Howell rolled up the window, locked the door and told officers she would fight them, according to police. The driver unlocked the door, but Howell tried to hold it shut and braced herself by placing her feet against the inside frame of the vehicle, police said. Law enforcement eventually used pepper spray to remove her, and, while authorities were trying to put her arms behind her back, she bit an officer on the arm, according to police.

Howell was taken to a local hospital, where she was treated for a reaction to the pepper spray, and then brought to Rock County Jail, police said. The officer who was bitten received medical attention for minor injuries and was able to return to work, according to police.

Howell, 43, of Brodhead, was charged with resisting an officer, battering law enforcement, two counts of felony bail jumping, five counts of misdemeanor bail jumping and drug paraphernalia possession, police said.