A woman in Memphis, Tennessee, was arrested after trying to escape from custody by biting one of the officers to expose him to her HIV infection, reports say.

Memphis police charged 38-year-old Dayton Smith with a series of offenses after she resisted arrest during a drug bust. The HIV-infected woman reportedly tried to bite an officer on the arm during a scuffle.

The woman is now being held for aggravated assault, resisting arrest, drug possession, and the “criminal exposure” of officers to HIV.

Police report that Smith was pulled over for having expired tags. They subsequently found she was driving on a suspended license and had no insurance. After a search of the car they also found marijuana and crack cocaine.

After she was placed in the squad car officers say she banged on the car window insisting she had to use the bathroom. Once officers took her out of the car she broke away and attempted to escape. It was then that she bit an officer as they tried to re-capture her.

The police report also notes Smith was using her car keys as a weapon.

Police said Smith “had her keys between her fingers and was swinging at the officer.”

The officer was treated and released and is now on the watch for the virus.

After the tussle, Smith told medical technicians she had AIDS.

The suspect is in jail on a $50,000 bond and is next due in court on August 11.



Follow Warner Todd Huston on Twitter @warnerthuston or email the author at igcolonel@hotmail.com.