North Huntingdon woman accused of intentionally coughing on McDonald's worker

A 47-year-old North Huntingdon woman who allegedly coughed on a McDonald’s worker and told the person “I hope you get covid-19” has been charged with assault, state police said.

Sharon K. Powell is charged with disorderly conduct, harassment, reckless endangerment and simple assault in connection with the alleged incident at 10:30 a.m. April 3 at the McDonald’s on the 6100 block on Route 30 in Hempfield, near Sam’s Club.

State Trooper Anthony DiRenzo said in court documents that after being served a drink in a to-go cup holder as a safety precaution, Powell “became upset and attempted to place the cup holder back through the window.”

DiRenzo said a restaurant manager was called and attempted to explain to Powell the new drink serving policy was a result of the coronavirus pandemic, but Powell then “let the cup holder fall to the ground and began coughing at the employee.”

“(Powell) began purposely coughing at the staff member as well as stating, ‘I hope you get covid-19 and die,’ ” DiRenzo said in a police report.

Another customer waiting behind Powell at the restaurant drive-thru heard the alleged threats and watched the confrontation, DiRenzo reported. Police said the witness wrote down the license plate number of Powell’s 2016 Jeep SUV.

Witnesses said Powell drove away after the incident.

The employee told troopers she felt Powell’s saliva hitting her face and hands as she coughed through the window. That employee was sent home.

When interviewed later, DiRenzo said Powell admitted to the confrontation but blamed the McDonald’s worker.

Reached by telephone Monday, Powell professed her innocence.

“It didn’t happen. They have no surveillance video of anything,” Powell said.

Powell added that she intends to hire an attorney and fight the charges at her hearing scheduled for Aug. 7 before District Judge Mark Mansour.

Powell is slated to appear in the same court June 16 on charges of receiving stolen property and retail theft for allegedly stealing $510 worth of merchandise from an adjacent Target store on Route 30 on several occasions between Nov. 6 and Dec. 4, according to court dockets.