Fight over shrimp in Pittsburgh lands 2 women in jail

Two women were hurt while fighting over a bag of shrimp inside a Pittsburgh home, police said.

They were charged with aggravated assault after the fracas.

Nandine Bell, 46, of Pittsburgh, told police she was buying a bag of shrimp from Pamela Freshley, 55, of Swissvale at about 12:34 p.m. Jan. 15, at a home on Cedar Avenue in the city’s East Allegheny neighborhood, according to a criminal complaint.

The women started arguing. Freshley took the bag of shrimp back and walked away, police said.

Bell tried to get the shrimp back and Freshley pulled out a pair of scissors, according to the complaint.

Bell grabbed a stick and started hitting Freshley, Bell told police, according to the complaint. At some point Freshley cut Bell in the face with the scissors, police said.

Freshley also spit on Bell and yelled about wanting to stab Bell in the eye, Bell told police, according to the complaint.

Freshley told police Bell came after her with a stick after the shrimp sale and Freshley cut Bell in the face to get her to stop using the stick. She said she was defending herself when she stabbed Bell, she told police.

A friend of Bell’s witnessed the fight and talked to police, the complaint said.

Bell was treated at Allegheny General Hospital for the cut to her face and Freshley was taken to UPMC Mercy Hospital to have her arm evaluated, according to the complaints.

Both women were charged with aggravated assault, a felony, and taken to Allegheny County Jail.

Freshley’s bail was set at $20,000 and Bell’s was $5,000. Both remained in jail awaiting a Jan. 30 preliminary hearing on the charges.

Neither woman had an attorney listed in court dockets.