By Police1 Staff
WISCASSET, Maine — An officer was stuck with a used heroin needle while conducting a search of a woman’s purse.
Police Chief Jeffrey Lange pulled over Jenen Sherman Sunday for speeding when he saw drug paraphernalia inside her car, NECN reported.
He called an officer for backup, who conducted a search of Sherman’s purse. Lange said they repeatedly asked her if she had anything that would poke or hurt them. She said “absolutely not.”
The officer reached inside the Sherman’s purse and was stuck with a needle. Later, she admitted the needle had heroin in it and old blood, Lange said.
The officer was taken to a hospital for testing. His HIV test has come back negative and officials are still waiting on the results of a hepatitis test.
Lange told the news station that this could have all been avoided if Sherman had just told them about the needles.
“Man up, and tell the officer that has to deal with you so they’re not at risk,” he said.
Sherman is charged with assault on a police officer and recklessly lying about the four needles inside her purse. She is also charged with use of drug paraphernalia and was issued a speeding ticket.