St. Pete man says he has coronavirus, spits in face of police officer, reports say

A St. Petersburg man is facing multiple charges after police say he spit in the face of a sergeant and said he had tested positive for coronavirus, arrest reports state.

The incident occurred about 11:50 p.m. Saturday in the 100 block of 41st Avenue N. St. Petersburg police were called there after a woman arriving home saw James Jamal Curry, 31, in front of her house. Curry had been arrested the night before on charges of felony domestic battery and false imprisonment. The woman was the victim.

After his arrest, Curry had posted $6,000 bail and was released from the Pinellas County jail. He was ordered by the court to stay away from the woman. He violated that order by showing up at her home Saturday night.

Officers responded to the home to arrest Curry for violating the order, but he fought with them. During the struggle, Curry spit in the face of a sergeant, police said.

"He told officers that he was positive for COVID-19 and he intentionally spit on an officer because he was positive,” an officer wrote in an arrest report.

Police said Curry also told the sergeant: “I know where you live and I am going to come and kill you.”

It took three officers to finally get him into the back of a police cruiser, police said. They also used pepper spray on him.

Once inside the cruiser, he tried to kick out the rear window, police said.

Curry faces charges of violating his pre-trial release, making a threat against a police officer, violation of isolation or quarantine, criminal mischief and resisting arrest with violence.

He was being held at the Pinellas County jail Tuesday. An assistant public defender has entered a not guilty plea on his behalf.

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