Massachusetts woman faces assault and battery charges after allegedly liberating swarm of bees

10/21/22 By Veronica Pileggi

A 55-year-old Massachusetts woman, Rorie S. Woods, is now facing several assault and battery charges after allegedly releasing a swarm of bees on a group of sheriff deputies, some of whom are allergic to bee stings, on the morning of Oct. 12. 

Deputies arrived at a home in Longmeadow on the morning of Oct. 12 to serve an eviction notice. Woods, who lives in Hadley, appeared shortly after with a trailer carrying bee hives. The report says she started “shaking” the hives, provoking hundreds of bees to sting multiple sheriffs. 

Woods was wearing a beekeeper’s suit to protect herself but was eventually restrained. It is unknown what connection Woods has to the property where the eviction notice was being served.

Since multiple deputies had been stung, one resulting in a member being transported to the hospital, Woods has been charged with four accounts of felony assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, three accounts of felony assault with a dangerous weapon, and disorderly conduct, a misdemeanor.

Woods pleads not guilty to all eight charges related to the incident on Oct. 12 and was released without bail at Springfield District Court. AP News states, “Hampden County Sheriff Nick Cocchi said Woods could have faced more serious charges if anything worse had happened to those stung.”