The suspect had been arrested on suspicion of DUI when she spit on the officer, according to Arvada police.

ARVADA, Colo. — A woman is facing an assault charge after she spit on an Arvada Police officer and implied she had exposed the officer to the virus that causes COVID-19, according to the Arvada Police Department (APD).

Officers responded about 7:20 a.m. Sunday to a residential area in the 6000 block of Olde Wadsworth Boulevard on a report of a driver who had collided with four parked vehicles, according to an APD news release.

The officers found the suspect vehicle about a half-mile away, at the 7-Eleven at the intersection of Wadsworth Boulevard and West 58th Avenue, and arrested the driver, Brenda Johnson, 62. The officers investigated Johnson for DUI and placed her under arrest.

Johnson was taken to a local detoxification center, which is when she spit on the arresting officer. Arvada Police quoted her as saying, "There's some Corona for you, now all you need is a lime."

The arresting officer was following health department guidelines in reference to COVID-19, according to the release.

Johnson was booked into the Jefferson County jail and faces charges of second-degree assault on a peace officer, DUI, hit-and-run and other traffic charges. She is scheduled to appear in court April 3 for a return filing of charges.