What began as an assist to a medical emergency thought to be a drug overdose Feb. 3 ended with felony charges against a Holmes Beach woman for aggravated battery on a law enforcement officer and drug charges, including possession of cocaine.
Jenna Maroney, 24, of the 200 block of 71st Street, was charged following a struggle with Holmes Beach police after she spat blood in an officer’s face. An emergency medical services team responded, and the Holmes Beach Police Department also responded as backup to a possible drug overdose.
According to an HBPD report, Maroney had just lost custody of her child. The struggle ensued after she agreed to be transported in an ambulance.
At various intervals, four officers were dispatched to the scene in the garage of her mother’s house. Although Maroney’s last known address is her mother’s, according to the police reports, her mother advised officers she was not living there at the time. One report said Maroney’s child was staying with Maroney’s mother, and Maroney had broken into the garage sometime during the night.
One officer reported that upon his arrival EMS personnel were attempting to convince Maroney to go to the hospital, and Maroney was yelling at the officers and the EMS team. Maroney’s speech was slurred and incoherent, and her answers unresponsive to EMS questions, according to one of the reports.
According to one report, during the incident, police saw a knife at the top of her purse. The woman’s purse was then searched for weapons or contraband. In their search, police found 18 small white squares, .055 ounces, which tested positive for cocaine.
She was placed under arrest for the possession of drugs after she refused transport to the hospital.
The suspect then changed her mind, and asked EMS for transport to the hospital.
However, as EMS was leaving, an emergency medical technician opened the ambulance rear door and asked police for additional assistance because, while in the ambulance, they observed Maroney consume an unknown substance that appeared to be a drug from a locket on a chain around her neck.
Police then held Maroney down and attempted to retrieve the locket. While they held her down, she spat blood in an officer’s face.
EMS next restrained Maroney and put a mask on her face, according to the report.
The officer’s face, mouth and ear were sprayed with a cleaner. Police said the woman knew she had a life threatening disease.
The EMS and police took Maroney to Blake Medical Center, and from there she was transported to the Manatee County Jail.
Maroney’s mother called and asked police to return to the residence because she had gathered additional drug paraphernalia.
Bond is set at $5,000 for the aggravated battery and $1,000 for possession of cocaine. Other bonds from different cases also are active against Maroney, according to the Manatee County Sheriff’s website. At press time, she remains in jail awaiting an arraignment at 9 a.m., March 2, before 12th Circuit Court Judge Janette Dunnigan at the Manatee County Judicial Center, 1051 Manatee Ave., W., Bradenton.
Did you really feel it necessary to reveal that this person has a life threatening disease ? ! What about her son, did you take that into consideration ? NO
No wonder the nick name for your paper is the Byslander, you have earned it, once again !