London

A man coughed in the faces of 2 London police officers, now he's charged with assault

A 57-year-old man from Guelph has been charged with assault for allegedly coughing in the faces of two London police officers while resisting arrest.

The 57-year-old man from Guelph told police he had COVID-19 before coughing in their direction

London police officers, seen here responding to a routine call at a community medical clinic in Old East Village, have started wearing personal protection equipment while out on patrol since the coronavirus epidemic began. (Colin Butler/CBC)

A 57-year-old Guelph man has been charged with two counts of assault after he allegedly coughed in the faces of two officers while attempting to resist arrest. 

Police said the incident happened on Saturday night while officers were responding to reports of a disturbance outside an address on Stuart Street, which runs north-south between Cheapside Street and Oxford Street East.

The officers arrested a 57-year-old man at the scene, who began to struggle. He allegedly coughed in the faces of the officers, saying he had the coronavirus, while being placed in the back of the police cruiser.

The suspect is charged with failing to comply with his release conditions, resisting arrest and two counts of assault.