Plymouth Woman Charged With Biting Police Officer

A Plymouth woman has been charged with assault after police say she bit an officer and a paramedic who were trying to take her to a hospital after she threatened to kill herself.

Leah Marie Hautla-Koskie, 25, is charged with fourth-degree assault of a peace officer, a felony with a maximum penalty of three years in prison and a $6,000 fine.

According to the criminal complaint, signed by Hopkins Police Detective Renee Meuwissen, police responded to a home in Hopkins April 18 on a report of a suicidal woman.

When police arrived, they spoke to Hautla-Koskie, who was “visibly upset,” according to the complaint. A witness told police that Hautla-Koskie had argued with her boyfriend and said she wanted to kill herself; Hautla-Koskie told police she was sad and wanted to go to a hospital, the complaint says.

Officers determined that a health and welfare hold was appropriate, based on Hautla-Koskie’s mental state, and they called an ambulance. While they waited, Hautla-Koskie became agitated, refusing to sit down and trying to walk away, according to the complaint.

Hautla-Koskie was handcuffed and placed in a squad car to wait for the ambulance. After it arrived, Hautla-Koskie screamed at a paramedic and tried to get out of the squad car; police took hold of her and tried to escort her to the ambulance, but she continued to try to pull away.

Authorities put Hautla-Koskie on a stretcher and tried to restrain her, but she broke free, continuing to yell and scream at them, according to the complaint. As police held her in place, Hautla-Koskie sat up and bit one of the officers on his right arm, then bit a paramedic, the complaint charges.

Hautla-Koskie is free on a $20,000 bond. An omnibus hearing in her case is scheduled May 11 in Hennepin County District Court.