A homeless woman is being charged with assault of a police officer for her actions during another person’s traffic stop late last month.
According to a criminal complaint filed by police in Saint Clair, this incident happened on Ann St. on Aug. 30.
Police say they observed a man named Cassidy Robert Long driving a U-Haul truck. The officer says in his complaint that Long is known to have a suspended driving license and warrants for his arrest.
The U-Haul was stopped at Russell St. and then continued west on Ann St. That’s when police initiated a traffic stop on the U-Haul. Long stopped the truck at Oak St. At the same time, a gray Pontiac pulled in behind the scene of the traffic stop, nearly driving into the back of the Saint Clair Police vehicle.
From the Pontiac came a woman known to police as Ashley Long-Breininger walking toward the area of the traffic stop. Police say Long-Breininger then got into the U-Haul and then emerged from it holding a large black purse.
Long-Breininger did not have that black purse on her when she entered the U-Haul, police say. Police then removed the bag from Long-Breininger and then warned her to leave the area.
“I’m waiting for him,” Long-Breininger said.
Police then decided to detain Long-Breininger for obstruction.
Long reportedly said, “Ashley, just go.”
Long-Breininger then resisted attempts to cuff her, which led to a physical struggle. During the struggle, Long emerged from the U-Haul but was told several times to stay back from the situation with Long-Breininger.
While she was cuffed and being helped into a seated position on the ground, Long-Breininger reportedly spit on the Saint Clair officer, hitting him in the face. The officer noted that Long-Breininger was bleeding from her mouth and knee, prompting a call for police back-up and EMS assistance.
After allegedly spitting on the officer, Long-Breininger then reportedly said, “I have hepatitis.”
She then reportedly told the officer, “I have AIDS, so good for you.”
When Long-Breininger was placed in the back of the patrol vehicle, she also reportedly began banging her head off the center divider.
Long-Breininger is being charged with second-degree felony assault of a law enforcement officer and misdemeanor charges of obstruction of the administration of law, resisting arrest, and disorderly conduct as well as a summary harassment charge.
She was arraigned on Aug. 30 before District Magistrate AJ Serina and sent to Schuylkill County Prison on $25,000 bail, which hasn’t been posted. A preliminary hearing before District Magistrate David Plachko is set for Oct. 1.
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