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Bees unleashed in attack on deputies during eviction enforcement, Hampden County sheriff says

Rorie Susan Woods, 55, of Hadley, faces charges including assault and battery

Bees unleashed in attack on deputies during eviction enforcement, Hampden County sheriff says

Rorie Susan Woods, 55, of Hadley, faces charges including assault and battery

HE JOINS US IN THE NEWSROOM. JOHN. JOHN: LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS FACE ALL KINDS OF THREATS. BUT OUT IN LONGMEADOW THEY NEVER SAW THIS ONE COMING. THEY SAY A WOMAN WEAPONIZED BEES TO TRY TO STOP AN EVICTION. >> THIS ONE REALLY TAKES THE CAKE. REPORTER: WINGS CAME STAFFED IN HIGH ON A TRAILER -- >> THE BEES CAME OUT UNLEASHED AND SWARMING, ANGRY AND THEY STARTED STINGING EVERYBODY THERE. REPORTER: SHERSHERSHERIFF'S DEPU HUNDREDS OF BEES STARTED SWARMING AND STINGING THEM. >> ONE HAD REALLY HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE. REPORTER: DEPUTIES ARRESTED 55 YEARS RORY SUZY WOODS. INVESTIGATORS SAY THEY DIDN'T KNOW THE TENANT. >> THAT'S NOT PROTESTING. THAT IS NOT DEMONSTRATING. THAT IS BREAKING THE LAW. REPORTER: THE SHERIFF SAYS EMOTIONS RUN HIGH DURING EVICTION, THEY NEVER PLANNED FOR THIS KIND OF ATTACK. >> WHEN THE BEES PULLED UP, THERE'S NO TURNING TO PAGE 50 TO SAY THIS IS WHAT YOU DO. REPORTER: THANKS TO ACTION, THE WOMAN WAS ARRESTED QUICKLY FOR ANYONE WAS SERIOUSLY HUR
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Bees unleashed in attack on deputies during eviction enforcement, Hampden County sheriff says

Rorie Susan Woods, 55, of Hadley, faces charges including assault and battery

Deputies assigned to enforce an eviction in western Massachusetts said they were attacked by a woman armed with a swarm of bees. The deputies were enforcing the eviction at 49 Memery Lane in Longmeadow at 9:15 a.m. on Oct. 12 when a blue Nissan Xterra pulled up, Hampden County Sheriff Nicholas Cocchi said in a statement. The SUV was driven by 55-year-old Rorie Susan Woods, of Hadley, the sheriff said. Woods was towing manufactured bee hives behind her SUV. Photos provided by the sheriff's office show Woods struggling with a deputy."A Sheriff’s deputy tried to stop her, but as the agitated bees started getting out and circling the area, he pulled back," the sheriff wrote in a statement. "She then smashed the lid, and flipped a hive off of the flatbed, making the bees extremely aggressive. They swarmed the area and stung several officers and other innocent bystanders who were nearby."Woods donned a beekeeper's suit and carried a tower of bees to the front door of the home, where she tried to further agitate the bees, Cocchi said. The sheriff said this was an attempt to stop the eviction process. Photos provided by the sheriff's office show Woods was still wearing the beekeeper's suit when she was eventually arrested. "This woman, who traveled here, put lives in danger as several of the staff on scene are allergic to bees," Cocchi said in a statement provided by his office. "We had one staff member go the hospital and luckily, he was alright or she would be facing manslaughter charges. I support people’s right to protest peacefully but when you cross the line and put my staff and the public in danger, I promise you will be arrested."Woods is facing four counts of assault and battery by means of a dangerous weapon, three counts of assault by means of a dangerous weapon and one count of disorderly conduct. She was booked at the Western Mass. Regional Women’s Correctional Facility.Zillow shows the home at 49 Memery Ln. is 9,563 square feet with seven bedrooms and nine bathrooms. The estimated value is $1.515 million. “We are always prepared for protests when it comes to evictions, but a majority of the groups who protest understand that we are just doing our statutory duty in accordance with state law,” said Cocchi. “And they appreciate how we go above and beyond to help the people being evicted with anything they need from food and temporary shelter, to longterm housing, employment, and mental health and substance use disorder treatment."

Deputies assigned to enforce an eviction in western Massachusetts said they were attacked by a woman armed with a swarm of bees.

The deputies were enforcing the eviction at 49 Memery Lane in Longmeadow at 9:15 a.m. on Oct. 12 when a blue Nissan Xterra pulled up, Hampden County Sheriff Nicholas Cocchi said in a statement. The SUV was driven by 55-year-old Rorie Susan Woods, of Hadley, the sheriff said.

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Woods was towing manufactured bee hives behind her SUV. Photos provided by the sheriff's office show Woods struggling with a deputy.

Woods appears to be struggling with a deputy in photo provided by the Sheriff's Office
Hampden County Sheriff's Office

"A Sheriff’s deputy tried to stop her, but as the agitated bees started getting out and circling the area, he pulled back," the sheriff wrote in a statement. "She then smashed the lid, and flipped a hive off of the flatbed, making the bees extremely aggressive. They swarmed the area and stung several officers and other innocent bystanders who were nearby."

Woods donned a beekeeper's suit and carried a tower of bees to the front door of the home, where she tried to further agitate the bees, Cocchi said. The sheriff said this was an attempt to stop the eviction process.

Photos provided by the sheriff's office show Woods was still wearing the beekeeper's suit when she was eventually arrested.

"This woman, who traveled here, put lives in danger as several of the staff on scene are allergic to bees," Cocchi said in a statement provided by his office. "We had one staff member go the hospital and luckily, he was alright or she would be facing manslaughter charges. I support people’s right to protest peacefully but when you cross the line and put my staff and the public in danger, I promise you will be arrested."

Woods is facing four counts of assault and battery by means of a dangerous weapon, three counts of assault by means of a dangerous weapon and one count of disorderly conduct. She was booked at the Western Mass. Regional Women’s Correctional Facility.

rorie susan woods
Hampden County Sheriff's Office

Zillow shows the home at 49 Memery Ln. is 9,563 square feet with seven bedrooms and nine bathrooms. The estimated value is $1.515 million.

“We are always prepared for protests when it comes to evictions, but a majority of the groups who protest understand that we are just doing our statutory duty in accordance with state law,” said Cocchi. “And they appreciate how we go above and beyond to help the people being evicted with anything they need from food and temporary shelter, to longterm housing, employment, and mental health and substance use disorder treatment."