Woman faces two charges in reported COVID/coughing incident

ORE CITY — An East Texas woman arrested for DWI Saturday night had an assault charge added after police say she claimed to have COVID-19 and coughed directly into a jailer’s face. According to our news partner KETK, the Ore City Police Department says Darla Ann McCurry was pulled over around 10:30 p.m. Saturday for “failing to drive in a single lane.” The department wrote that the officer smelled “a strong odor of alcohol coming from the vehicle.” The initial charge followed a field sobriety test. While being booked into the Upshur County Jail, McCurry claimed to have COVID-19, turned toward a correctional officer, and “deliberately coughed in his face,” according to a police statement. McCurry was then charged with assaulting a public servant. She faces a maximum of 10 years in prison if convicted.