Sarah Ann McCord, 35, from Jacksonville is facing felony charges for coughing in the face of a JSO officer.
She was originally arrested for battery and transported to UF Health, where she coughed in an officer’s face and told him, “I have coronavirus.” JSO states the incident was caught on the officer’s body camera. This happened this past Friday.
Earlier today a memo was sent from from the State Attorney’s Office to attorneys with the Fourth Judicial Circuit explaining its zero-tolerance policy for COVID-19 related offenses.
The memo states that intentional coughing can be charged as aggravated assault on an officer, and intentional touching or spitting can be charged as aggravated battery against an officer. However, “there would need to be proof that the defendant had previously tested positive for COVID-19.’
The full memo from the State Attorney’s Office, which details the policy may be found here.