A Massachusetts woman faces multiple assault and battery charges for allegedly releasing a swarm of bees on a group of sheriff’s deputies, some of whom were allergic to bee stings, as they tried to serve an eviction notice, authorities said. Rorie S. Woods, 55, pleaded not guilty in her Oct. 12 arraignment in Springfield District Court and was released without bond, Masslive.com reported Wednesday, citing court records. Her attorney did not immediately return a voice message left by The Associated Press on Wednesday. Deputies with the Hampden County Sheriff’s Department went to a home in Longmanto on the morning of Oct. 12 and were met by protesters, according to the department’s official report. Woods, who lives in Hadley, soon arrived in an SUV towing a trailer carrying beehives, the report said. He began “shaking” the hives, breaking the cover off of one, causing hundreds of bees to pile up and initially sting a deputy, according to the report. Woods, who donned a beekeeper suit to protect herself, was eventually handcuffed, but not before several more sheriff’s department employees were stung, including three who are allergic to bees, the report said. When Woods was told that several officers were allergic to bees, she said, “Oh, you’re allergic? Good,” according to the report. Hampden County Sheriff Nick Cokey said Woods could have faced more serious charges if something worse had happened to those who were stung. “We had a staff member go to the hospital and, thankfully, he was OK,” Cocchi said.
