Making Matters Worse

Making+Matters+Worse

Atziri Ramos, Reporter

On Oct.12., in Hampden County, Massachusetts, a protester is accused of unleashing bees to deputies to stop an eviction. This protester, Rorie Woods, 55, is charged with four counts of felony assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, three counts of felony assault with a dangerous weapon, and disorderly conduct – a misdemeanor. She pleaded not guilty to all eight charges.“About 9:45 a.m., around 25 minutes after Woods had arrived, deputies put her in the back of a cruiser and drove her about eight miles to the regional women’s jail. She was arraigned later that day and released on the promise that she would return for future hearings,” sheriff’s office spokesman Robert Rizzuto said.Officers at this time attempted to stop Woods but were unsuccessful by the numerous bees that were out.“We had one staff member go [to] the hospital and luckily, he was alright or she would be facing manslaughter charges,” She put lives in danger as several of the staff on scene were allergic to bees. She uses this advantage against them.Deputy Joslyn tried to intervene when she noticed Woods opening the four or five large bee hives she brought out.“Deputy Joslyn was then stung in the face and had to retreat,” Deputy Daniel Soto said in his report.
Some deputies had to take shelter in the nearly 7,900-square-foot home. Others were lucky to avoid the situation but many were not. Three deputies and a sheriff’s office photographer were stung in the face, hand, ear, and the back of the head. The photographer was taken immediately to the hospital. The bees stung many bystanders nearby.Skin reactions that include hives, itching, flushed or pale skin are what you can expect from a bee sting. Difficulty breathing with the swelling of the throat and tongue or a weak, rapid pulse may occur. These symptoms may or may not heavily affect you but it’s best to avoid getting one. Those with bee allergies or some who have been stung before multiple times can have a serious illness and can be sometimes fatal. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, as many as 100 individuals in the United States die each year as a result of anaphylactic shock that are caused by stings.At the time of the incident, protesters had gathered at the apex of the cul-se-sac, informed that the occupant was at the courthouse in a last-ditch effort to delay the eviction which the deputies were waiting for him to come. Either way it is unclear whether Woods knows the occupant of the five-bedroom house. Problems were occurring and creating such injuries has piled up over Woods.