West Newton woman charged with assault on police after apparent weeklong meth use

A West Newton woman waived her right to a preliminary hearing Monday on charges she used a racial slur and assaulted an officer after apparently using methamphetamine for seven days.

Amanda Hornfeck is charged with aggravated assault, escape, resisting arrest and other offenses in connection with a July 18 incident at the borough police station. Her age was not included in court papers.

She is scheduled for a plea hearing Oct. 21, according to online court records.

An officer was completing a report at the station about a domestic situation Hornfeck was involved in 20 minutes earlier when she showed up there at 10 p.m. Police reported that Hornfeck claimed to have been awake for seven days while using methamphetamine and requested an ambulance.

While waiting for the ambulance, Hornfeck was in a state of “excited delirium” and tried to take her clothing off and get into a patrol car to drive herself to the hospital, according to court papers. She slipped off a set of handcuffs and hit the officer, which police said caused 13 cuts on his arms.

Police said she continued to resist after being pepper sprayed. When state and Monessen police arrived to help get her into the ambulance, she allegedly directed a racial slur toward a Black trooper. Hornfeck is accused of being combative during the ride to Mon Valley Hospital.

She was arrested three days later. Her bail was changed Monday to $50,000 unsecured, allowing her release from the Westmoreland County Prison, according to online court records.

Her attorney could not be reached for comment.

Methamphetamine use can cause rapid and irregular heartbeat, euphoria and increased activity and wakefulness, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse.