A female inmate at Montezuma County Detention Center has been charged with second-degree assault after allegedly throwing a soaked toilet paper roll at a detention deputy.
Dolores resident Lori Ann Hayes, 57, was arrested on Oct. 11 after allegedly stealing a Chevy Silverado with the keys in the cupholder on North Chestnut Street in Cortez. She posted a $500 bond on Oct. 12 and four days later was arrested on suspicion of stealing a 2008 Lexus that the owner had left running outside City Market.
She has been in custody at the county jail since Oct. 16. The new charge of second-degree assault was filed on Nov. 1. Hayes allegedly used profanity and threats toward a deputy before attempting to flush a blue uniform and shoes in the toilet. She then threw a wet toilet paper roll at the deputy’s stomach, according to the Sheriff’s Office incident report.
According to the report, the toilet paper roll was a hazard and possibly had direct contact with the toilet bowl, which might have contained feces or dangerous diseases.
The Colorado criminal code has a specific statue for such an offense. A person confined at a detention facility can be charged with second-degree assault for causing a detention facility employee to come in contact with blood, seminal fluid, urine, feces, saliva, mucus, vomit or any toxic, caustic or hazardous material.
Montezuma County Court Judge JenniLynn Lawrence informed Hayes, who appeared in court by video, of the charge in a hearing on Wednesday. If convicted, Hayes could serve four to 12 years in prison for assaulting the deputy. Hayes will appear in court again on Nov. 28 for preliminary hearings on the second-degree assault charge as well as the two car theft charges.
According to Cortez Police Department incident reports, the owner of the Chevy Silverado that Hayes is accused of stealing on Oct. 11 was familiar with Hayes. She reportedly had been hanging around the parking lot all day and allegedly broke into the building at 107 N. Chestnut St. on Oct. 8 and Oct. 10.
The owner of the Silverado said she was about to leave for the day when she forgot her phone inside the building. The owner left the keys in the car for about two minutes. In that time, Hayes allegedly drove off in the car, then was stopped by police in the 200 block of South Broadway.
She posted bond the next day and four days later was arrested after another car theft. According to an Oct. 16 incident report, a police officer had previous contacts that day with Hayes at the Cork ’N’ Bottle liquor store and the Super 8 Motel in Cortez.
About 10:30 p.m. on Oct. 16, the owner of a 2008 Lexus with California plates reportedly left her car running as she went to purchase a few items at City Market. When she returned from the store, her vehicle was gone.
A half-hour later, a police officer saw the Lexus with California plates and pulled the vehicle over. Hayes was arrested and taken to the Montezuma County Detention Center. The vehicle owner reported no damage and nothing was missing.
In both vehicle theft incidents, Hayes was charged with identical counts of aggravated motor vehicle theft, a Class 6 felony for vehicles valued between $1,000 and $20,000, and first-degree criminal trespass.
sdolan@the-journal.com