July 1, 2015 at 4:13 p.m.
Crandon woman charged with battery to emergency worker
Crandon woman charged with battery to emergency worker
Jessica A. Bird appeared before Branch I Judge Patrick O'Melia on June 15, charged with battery to an emergency rescue worker, a class H felony, as well as five counts of misdemeanor bail jumping and one count of resisting an officer.
According to the deputy's report attached to the criminal complaint, Oneida County Dispatch received a report of an intoxicated female outside of a bar in Schoepke at about 4:35 a.m. June 13. When deputies arrived, they allegedly found Bird slumped over an electrical box wearing just a tank top, jean shorts and shoes in the chilly night. The deputy said he noticed bruises all over Bird's legs and arms and a scratch next to her right eye. A vehicle nearby had its window down and the motor running.
After trying unsuccessfully to get information from Bird, paramedics were brought in to check on her. When one of the paramedics placed a blood pressure cuff on Bird's arm, the report alleges she grabbed his forearm and dug her fingernails into it, breaking the skin.
Bird then allegedly became combative, resisting the deputies' attempts to place her on a gurney. Eventually they got her onto the gurney and handcuffed her to the railing and restrained her legs.
Bird allegedly continued to thrash and tried to break the railing and leg restraints. While Bird was being transported to St. Mary's Hospital, deputies learned she had five open cases in Forest County with bond conditions that she not drink or enter taverns.
Once in the emergency room, Bird allegedly continued to lash out and tried to break her restraints and refused to cooperate with the medical staff. Eventually, Bird calmed down and was informed that she was under arrest, the report states. She was medically cleared to be taken to jail at 10:51 a.m.
At her in initial appearance, Assistant District Attorney Jodi Bednar-Clemens, citing the many open cases, requested that O'Melia set a $2,500 cash bond.
"Not only can she not conform herself to the law, her negative behavior is escalating and now she has injured an emergency rescue worker," Bednar-Clemens said. "She just doesn't understand that she can't drink and she can't go into bars. She's just acting like a crazy person, and so I think the likelihood of her absconding has increased now that she is looking at a pretty serious felony charge."
When asked if she understands the no-drink no-taverns bond conditions set in her other cases, Bird said she did.
O'Melia said he was contacted on the morning of the incident and had set a $7,500 cash bond for Bird.
Bird told O'Melia that she believed she had posted a total of $7,500 in the five cases in Forest County, and court records there show she had those forfeited on numerous occasions as she piled up new cases.
"Well, that is likely to be forfeited, someone needs to contact the DA's office down there to do that, but you are out of control," O'Melia said. "You are accumulating too many cases, all the same type. You're an unruly person when intoxicated, which is often."
Bird told O'Melia that she didn't know she had hurt a paramedic, and that the jail staff would not immediately tell her what her charges were.
"That's because you have no recollection, correct" O'Melia asked.
"Yes,"Bird replied.
O'Melia said if the cash bond is not posted, Bird may enter inpatient treatment for her alcohol addiction if a bed is available.
"If the money is posted, and you are released, it will be a bond condition that you have no intoxicants, no taverns," O'Melia said.
The matter was adjourned to allow Bird time to arrange for an attorney.
If convicted of the battery charge, Bird faces up to six years in prison and a fine of up to $10,000 or both.
Jamie Taylor may be reached at [email protected].
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