New Sharon woman guilty of assaulting officer with stungun

[bluedigger]

Source: Daily Bulldog

FARMINGTON - A New Sharon woman was convicted of using a stungun to assault a Maine State trooper today, with the jury returning the verdict after the defendant refused to return to the courtroom.


The charges were filed in relation to an incident occurring on Oct. 14, 2009, at Murphy’s home. Maine State Trooper Aaron Turcotte, who testified Wednesday for the state, received a complaint from the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals organization that Murphy’s home contained animals.

Murphy is barred from possessing animals for life, following her 2005 conviction for animal cruelty.



On the tape, Turcotte’s quiet voice is obscured by a loud crackling noise, followed by the trooper yelling at Murphy.

“What the hell are you doing that for?” Turcotte can be heard saying on the tape. “Get on the ground. Get on the ground, now.”

Turcotte subdued Murphy with pepper spray and eventually wrestled her to the ground and placed her in handcuffs. On the tape, Murphy can be heard explaining her reasoning.

“The law says if you have a bad warrant and you try to arrest me,” she says, “then I can kill you.”

“I just got tased in the face,” Turcotte told dispatchers when he secured Murphy and returned to his vehicle. “10-46 .”

Read more: http://www.dailybulldog.com/db/?p=4245

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This a hell of a story out of a small Maine town. A heroic State Trooper, a pet hoarder, civil suits and issues. Plenty of grist for the DU mill. A well written piece as well. Mods, feel free to move this, if you can find a more appropriate place. Dateline is today.

[DFab420]

1. Oh Maine..

(in my best Maniac impression)...Yah can't get thare frum here

40 animals! thats insane..

[Po_d Mainiac]

5. geez

Yuu cahnt ghet theyah frum heyuh

[Moosepoop]

2. Has this woman had a mental evaluation?

The article didn't say, but it sure sounds like she's not grounded in reality. I wonder if there was any kind of competency hearing along the way. I'm not sure she should have been allowed to represent herself, unless she had been evaluated and found to be competent to do so.

[Dappleganger]

4. Hoarding to that extent is certainly a mental disorder.

Hopefully she'll get a psych eval and be put on meds, but chances are someone like her won't take them when she's on her own.

[Mopar151]

7. By the Jesus!

You ain't got to be no talkin' Doctah ta tell she's a few lobstahs short of a full boat....

[Pavulon]

3. Maniac cat lady...

lucky no one was seriously injured in this altercation.

[Mopar151]

6. Sounds like some a the crittas war'nt so good. n/t