Today, a Deschutes County grand jury returned an indictment charging 35-year-old Bend resident Daniel Ray Stubblefield with charges related to his attempt to infect a Bend Police Officer with COVID-19. Specifically, Stubblefield was charged with one count of aggravated harassment, two counts of attempted assault on a public safety officer, one count of menacing, and one count of recklessly endangering another person.
On March 23, 2020, Bend Police responded to a call of an unwanted subject at a residence. When the police arrived they determined that Stubblefield was the unwanted person and that he had warrants for his arrest. He was arrested on the warrants and transported to the Deschutes County Jail.
On the drive to the jail, it is alleged that Stubblefield told the officer that he had COVID-19 and then began spitting and breathing on the officer. The officer stopped the car, exited, and waited for back-up officers to arrive. When the back-up officers arrived, they placed Stubblefield in a WRAP restraint device with a spit mask.
Once at the jail, jail staff determined that Stubblefield should be transported to St. Charles Hospital. During the transport to the hospital, Mr. Stubblefield was not in a WRAP because he had calmed down. However, it is alleged that Stubblefield again intentionally blew air on the officer, and that he also intentionally coughed on the officer.
Mr. Stubblefield is currently in the Deschutes County Jail and his next court hearing is March 30, 2020 at 1:30.
Statement from District Attorney Hummel:
“We’re not messing around. Our first responders, medical professionals, and retail clerks are on the front lines of the battle to save lives and win the war against COVID-19. If anyone in our community takes a shot at infecting, and thus potentially killing, one of our front line heroes, I will use the full authority granted to me by the people of Oregon to hold them accountable.
Mr. Stubblefield is presumed innocent of these charges, and in fact is innocent, unless and until his guilt is proven beyond a reasonable doubt. If his guilt is proven I will seek the maximum penalty authorized by law”
