Two Charged For Assault with Bodily Fluids in Separate Incidents
By Lisa Pett
In two separate incidents, a local man and woman face charges for assaulting law enforcement with bodily fluids.
Michael Rowton, 38, of Stevens Point, appeared via video in Portage County Court on Monday, charged with spitting at a Portage County Sheriff’s Deputy on June 8.
Rowton was being held in the Portage County Jail and had been scheduled for transfer to Waupaca County for housing. According to the criminal complaint, Rowton was resistant to the transfer and made comments to the deputies indicating he would be a problem if they tried to transport him.
During the exchange, Rowton told jail captain, “I’ll see you when I get out.” When confronted about the comment by a deputy, Rowton allegedly spit on him and said, “[Expletive] you.”
When he arrived in Waupaca, Rowton threatened to harm himself and others if he was forced to stay. Waupaca jailers refused to accept Rowton, who was then taken to the Lincoln County Jail.
During his court appearance, Rowton admitted to Judge Thomas Eagon that he did spit at the deputy but claimed to have “explosive personality disorder” and apologized for the incident. Judge Eagon ordered a $2,000 signature bond for Rowton, who is being held on other charges.
Rowton’s initial appearance was continued until next week when he can appear with counsel.
The second incident occurred on July 7 in the Village of Plover.
Katie Kusch, 27, of Plover is facing charges of disorderly conduct and discharging bodily fluids at a safety officer after she allegedly spit at officers of the Plover Police Department during her arrest.
PPD officers arrested Kusch, who appeared intoxicated, on charges stemming from a domestic abuse incident. While they were placing her in the squad car, Kusch began screaming and banging her head on the cage.
According to the criminal complaint, she spit on one officer before they closed the divider in the vehicle and then she began banging her head on it, shouting, “Now I’m bleeding, I’ll spit this on you,” before spitting blood on the divider.
Kusch had a blood alcohol content of .146. She was treated at St. Michael’s Hospital and transported to the Portage County Jail.
She is being held on a $500 cash bond and is due back in court on July 27.
Discharging bodily fluids at a safety officer is a felony offense punishable by a $10,000 fine and three and a half years in prison.