Woman charged after officer stuck with drug needle

WILKES-BARRE, LUZERNE COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU) — A woman is facing charges after police say an officer was stuck with a hypodermic needle while attempting to arrest the woman.

According to Wilkes-Barre City Police, officers found a woman, later identified as Jessica Shaver, 33, of Exeter, lying on a grassy area with what appeared to be track marks along her arm, legs, and neck.

Police say when they told Shaver that medics would be looking at her because they believed she was under the influence, Shaver began walking away.

An officer grabbed Shaver’s arm to get her to stop walking, she fought him and during the struggle, the officer was stuck in the hand with an uncapped hypodermic needle, as stated in the affidavit.

Officers said the needle fell to the ground and Shaver stomped on it, allegedly to destroy the evidence. According to court documents, Shaver was found with methamphetamine and another hypodermic needle.

Shaver was charged with simple assault, public intoxication, resisting arrest, tampering with evidence, possessing drug paraphernalia, and drug possession.

Shaver is being held at the Luzerne County Correctional Facility on a $5,000 bail.

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