Police: Woman bit hospital staff member

TORRINGTON — A city woman was arrested Monday after she allegedly bit a medical worker while receiving care at Charlotte Hungerford Hospital, according to the Torrington Police Department.

Michele Rousseau, 59, of 214 Funston Ave., Torrington, was charged with breach of peace and assault of emergency personnel, according to court records.

A Torrington police officer wrote in a probable cause report that they were dispatched to check on Rousseau after it was reported she was intoxicated and threatening to harm herself.

After refusing to provide her location by phone, Rousseau was found on Washington Street Extension, according to the report. She denied threatening to harm herself, but became combative while speaking with police.

“Rousseau became more and more frantic sometimes yelling calling us foul names and otherwise being calm and asking questions about what was going on. I explained to Rousseau that she was going to be transported to (Charlotte Hungerford Hospital) to be evaluated,” said the officer in the report.

“Rousseau became agitated and was handcuffed for the safety of all involved. Rousseau continue to be calm (one) minute then extremely agitated the next. At one point she stamped her right boot down on my left foot.”

She was taken to Charlotte Hungerford by ambulance, according to the report.

“At (the hospital) as Rousseau was being taken out of the ambulance she bit down on the left finger of (an) Emergency Service Worker,” said the officer. “When this incident occurred I was at the foot of the stretcher. The worker yelled in pain, ‘(s)he just bit me.’”

The hospital employee pressed charges against Rousseau, according to the report.

Rousseau was arrested and held in lieu of $10,000 surety bond, according to court records. She was arraigned Tuesday in Superior Court in Torrington.

Judge Paul A. Matasavage reduced her bond to $2,500, and she was next scheduled to appear in court to April 16.