July 8, 2009

HIV-Positive Woman in Cincinnati Arrested for Spitting at Boyfriend

An HIV-positive woman in Cincinnati has been arrested for allegedly attacking her boyfriend with her spit and hitting him in the face with a bottle during an argument in “an attempt to cause him physical harm,” local ABC affiliate WCPO reports.

According to the police, in addition to a felony domestic violence charge, the 43-year-old woman is facing a resisting arrest charge for allegedly pulling away from officers when they tried to arrest her.

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P.M.M., Lexington, 2009-07-09 15:22:10
First off, you can't catch HIV/Aids through saliva, so why did they have to even mention the woman who spit was HIV Pos? Some people are so ignorant

Bill P, California, 2009-07-09 12:49:40
Oh great. The police will probably add on "attempted murder." The fear of getting HIV from "spit" is just as fearful as getting infected from the real bodily fluids. More and more state laws are on the books for this spitting incident as "attempted murder." So don't think it can't happen. Hopefully the police will only charge her with domestic violence and resisting arrest. Now, what about her boyfriend? Did he hit back? Is he HIV?

OleMan, BMI, 2009-07-09 11:39:49
This isn't so much about spitting as it is about violence...since she hit him in the face with a bottle. However, if they seek attempted murder (due to spitting) then this becomes an example of where laws need to catch up with how HIV is actually transmitted (e.g. Attempt to inject poz fluid into bloodstream). Whereas spitting is moreso seen as major disrespect rather than malice.