A woman accused of spitting on deputies who came to her home on a domestic violence call has been charged with assault with bodily fluids and other charges, an official said Thursday.

Shannon Leigh Mitchell, 33, of 24512 Oak Drive, Elkmont, is charged with two counts of assault with bodily fluids, one count of resisting arrest and two counts of third-degree domestic violence (criminal mischief and harassment) following the incident Wednesday night, said Deputy Stephen Young, public information officer for the Limestone County Sheriff’s Office.

Mitchell remained in the Limestone County Jail Thursday afternoon. Bail is $11,000, but her release has not been set.

The incident

According to a report filed by Deputy Mark Zivat, he went to the Oak Drive home on a domestic violence call and found the front porch patio furniture thrown around and glass on the side of the door kicked in, Young said. He found Mitchell in the basement with something in her hand. When Zivat asked Mitchell to show him what she was holding, she refused. At some point, though, he determined she was holding an insulin syringe, which she refused to put down.

When Zivat tried to handcuff Mitchell, she twice attempted to spit on him, Young said based on the report. After cuffing Mitchell, Zivat helped her get up from the floor and onto the couch to sit down, and she attempted to spit on him again, Young said. When Sgt. Martin Evan arrived as backup, Mitchell also attempted to spit on him, Young said.

A hood was then placed on her head to prevent her from spitting.

While the report says Mitchell “attempted to spit on the deputies,” Young said that may mean she tired to spit on them but missed or she failed to make contact with their skin. The deputy who made the report was not available Thursday for clarification.

If it is determined Mitchell’s bodily fluid made contact with the skin of either deputy, they will be tested for an infectious disease like hepatitis C, Young said.

“This is one of the possible threats first-responders face that people don’t think about,” Young said. “They think about a first-responder being shot or stabbed or run over in a traffic stop, but the threat can come from anywhere.”

If Mitchell’s bodily fluid didn’t contact the skin of the deputies, the charges of assault with bodily fluids may be dropped but the domestic violence charges will stand, Young said.

He added that the spitting incident is the second he has encountered in nearly five years with the Sheriff’s Office. He said another officer, Caleb Durden, was exposed to hepatitis C during a similar incident and had to be tested and receive preventive treatment.