Plea entered in cop battery case

SANDPOINT — A Priest River woman accused of biting and kicking law officers during her arrest earlier this month pleaded not guilty Monday to a suite of charges.

Donna June Hudson is charged with three felony counts of battery on a law officer, in addition to unlawful possession of a prescription and resisting arrest.

Hudson’s pleas set the stage for a two-day jury trial in 1st District court in May. She is being held at the Bonner County Jail with bail set at $70,500.

Bonner County Deputy Public Defender Susie Jensen requested Hudson be released on her own recognizance, arguing Hudson has no prior criminal record of any import and that the charges against her amounted to a struggle during an arrest, court records indicate.

Judge Barbara Buchanan declined to reduce bail after reviewing a probable cause affidavit in the case.

Hudson, 26, had an active warrant for her arrest when she was seen by a Priest River Police officer at an apartment complex on Jan. 6. Hudson repeatedly struck the officer in the arm while being handcuffed and attempted to run, the affidavit said. While descending a flight of steps, Officer Tanner Bodie and Hudson fell into a snowbank. Hudson allegedly bit Bodie’s hand and struck the officer three times while being subdued.

Hudson is accused of kicking Bodie, prompting him to douse her with pepper spray, the affidavit said. She allegedly kicked Bonner County sheriff’s Deputy Sgt. James Cotter and spit in the face of Deputy Kimberly Kempton, according to court records.

Bodie was treated for a bite wound and Bonner General Health, court documents indicate.

A tablet of hydrocodone was allegedly found in Hudson’s pocket at the time of her arrest.