Ohio man charged with felony after officials say he purposely coughed at police, EMS

CUYAHOGA FALLS, Ohio – Officials said Tuesday that police officers and EMS personnel remain healthy after an Ohio man allegedly coughed at them on purpose while they were at his home April 6.

Cuyahoga Falls Police Capt. Steve Guldeman and Deputy Fire Chief Chris Martin said they had not received results of court-ordered coronavirus testing for 34-year-old Jared A. McDowell.

“I have not heard he was positive,” Guldeman said. “I’m sure that I would have heard he was positive if he was.”

According to Stow Municipal Court records, McDowell is charged with fifth-degree felony harassment by inmate and fourth-degree misdemeanor disorderly conduct. During his arraignment Monday, Judge Lisa Coates ordered that McDowell be taken to a hospital for testing as a condition of his release from jail on a personal bond.

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Guldeman said police initially responded to McDowell’s home after receiving a report that he was in a physical altercation with an adult male relative during the early evening April 6. According to a police report and the disorderly conduct complaint police filed with the court, McDowell was intoxicated.

“When we arrived, they were having a verbal argument,” Guldeman said. “And I know that when the officers made contact with Jared, he was highly intoxicated.”

Guldeman said McDowell became “very aggressive” and EMS was called to take him to Akron City Hospital “due to him not being able to take care of himself and the intoxication,” Guldeman said.

The report says McDowell removed a protective mask from his face and coughed in the vicinity of the police officers and paramedics.

Guldeman said he believes the officers were farther away from McDowell than the paramedics were.

“I think my officers feel they were relatively far enough away from the exposure,” he said.

Martin said he is unsure whether paramedics were wearing any personal protective equipment at the time, but as of Tuesday, they are now required to wear masks anytime they come within 6 feet of a patient. He said that while the incident was “egregious and offensive to say the least,” fire department personnel are frequently exposed to hazards, and unless they show symptoms, they are not tested or sent home for quarantine.

“We’re concerned for all our guys, every call they go on,” he said. “If we were to quarantine after every exposure, we wouldn’t have anyone working.”

According to court records, an arrest warrant was issued for him on April 9, but was in custody on Monday. He entered a felony no plea for the felony charge and pleaded not guilty to the misdemeanor at his arraignment.

McDowell is scheduled for a felony status hearing on April 22.

McDowell’s attorney, Christopher VanDevere, declined to comment Tuesday, saying he had only just been assigned to represent McDowell.

Follow reporter Jeff Saunders on Twitter: @JeffSaunders_RP

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