State police cite 2 people in Westmoreland County for 'purposely coughing' on workers

A worker at a fast-food restaurant in Hempfield and two staff members at a doctor’s office in Unity claim they were assaulted and harassed Saturday in separate incidents by people who purposely coughed on them, claiming to have coronavirus.

State police said they will charge a 48-year-old North Huntingdon woman who is accused of assaulting the fast-food worker at a drive-thru window about 8:49 a.m. at a restaurant along Route 30.

After being told that drinks are being served in to-go cup holders as a safety precaution, the customer “became upset and attempted to place the cup holder back through the window,” Trooper Anthony Direnzo said.

“The woman 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. Police did not identify the woman.

The employee told police she felt the woman’s saliva hitting her face and hands as the woman coughed.

That employee was sent home to monitor themselves. The name of the restaurant was not disclosed.

Direnzo said the female customer will be charged with disorderly conduct, reckless endangerment and simple assault.

The second incident occurred at 10:11 a.m. at a unspecified doctor’s office along Route 981 in Latrobe, troopers reported.

In that incident, police said a 53-year-old Cherry Tree, Indiana County, man entered the office and saw one of the staff members wearing a protective mask and said, “That mask is not going to help you.”

He then asked the victim whether she was sick.

“The man then opened his mouth, put his tongue out and coughed repeatedly on the victim. He then stated, ‘I guess we’ll find out,’ ” Trooper Troy Faulk said.

Faulk said the assailant, whom he did not identify, then went to a second female staff member and purposely coughed on her when she instructed him to wear a protective mask she had handed him.

The suspect claimed he was an EMT and was at the office for a physical check-up, according to police.

Faulk said the suspect will be charged with disorderly conduct, harassment, reckless endangerment and simple assault.