Footage shows woman deliberately coughing in police officer’s face

‘Charlene Merrifield knew exactly what she was doing, which is absolutely appalling’

Police have released bodycam footage of a woman deliberately coughing in an officer’s face as she was arrested.

Charlene Merrifield, 39, was stopped by police in Hebburn, South Tyneside, following reports of a woman attempting to attack a man with a knife and damaging cars in the area.

Bodycam footage shows Merrifield being abusive towards officers as they put her in the back of a police van, before leaning forward and coughing loudly in the direction of one PC without covering her mouth.

The officer tells her: “You gan on like that and I swear to God you’ll gan to jail, right, I’m not joking.”

Merrifield, of no fixed address, was initially arrested on suspicion of affray after police were called to Lyon Street on 8 April.

Officers found her nearby with two bricks in her hands, however she was not found to be in possession of a knife.

A Ford Focus car was also discovered with a windscreen wiper snapped off.

She later admitted assault of an emergency worker, criminal damage and a public order offence, along with breach of a suspended sentence, when appearing before magistrates.

Northumbria Police decided to release the footage of her “appalling” behaviour after she was jailed for 21 weeks.

Chief Inspector Nicola Wearing, of Northumbria Police, said: “Our officers come to work each day in order to keep people safe and protect the communities they serve. They do so knowing they could be faced with potentially dangerous situations.

Charlene Merrifield, 39, who was jailed after coughing in a police officer's face as he arrested her on suspicion of affray in Hebburn, South Tyneside, on 8 April 2020. (Northumbria Police)

“However, at a time when our communities across Northumbria are pulling together and showing the incredible spirit that this region is famed for, there remains a small minority who show a total disregard for both the law and the welfare of others.

“Charlene Merrifield knew exactly what she was doing as she decided to intentionally cough at one of our officers, which is absolutely appalling.

“I hope this case highlights how seriously offences of this nature are being taken in the light of the current pandemic.”