Woman who spit on cop sentenced

SANDUSKY — A Sandusky woman convicted of spitting on a police officer was recently sentenced to prison. Heather L. Fox, 51, of Sandusky, pleaded guilty to one count of harassment with a bodily substance, a fifth-degree felony. At a July 1 sentencing hearing in Erie County Common Pleas Court, Judge Beverly McGookey issued Fox an 11-month incarceration. The maximum penalty in Ohio for that charge is 12 months. In exchange for her guilty plea, the state dropped one count of fourth-degree felony assault on a peace officer, according to court records. She will also be on post-release control for two years following her release from prison. Fox is currently incarcerated in the Ohio Reformatory for Women in Marysville. She has an expected release date of Jan. 20. The crime At approximately 11:30 p.m. on Dec. 12, officers were called to a home in the 1000 block of Clinton St. for a disturbance. Officers arrived to find Fox in the home's driveway, and she was yelling, according to a Sandusky police report. A person at the residence claimed they asked Fox to leave, and Fox responded by kicking the person, the report states. That person and the homeowner said they no longer wished for Fox to be at the residence. The homeowner claimed that Fox only ever causes issues when she is present. While speaking with one officer, Fox allegedly spat on the officer. She was placed under arrest but reportedly became combative with two officers. Officers attempted to search Fox, the report states. During this time, Fox reportedly kicked backward several times. One of the kicks hit an officer in the knee, according to the report. The search continued, and, at that time, Fox allegedly partially turned and kicked the officer in the chest. Officers then assisted Fox to the ground so they could complete the search. They were then able to complete the search and place Fox in the backseat of a cruiser. Once in the vehicle, Fox allegedly began calling officers racial slurs and used several profanities.