Bradenton woman coughed on fellow beach-goers. That’s not what got her arrested, cops say

A 49-year-old Bradenton woman was arrested after she spat on code enforcement officers when they told her to leave the Manatee Public Beach because she had purposely coughed on others, according to the Holmes Beach Police Department.

Officers say Angie Prater was arguing with other beach goers over a picnic table around 2 p.m. Monday when two code enforcement officers were alerted and attempted to diffuse the situation.

Prater was observed “intentionally coughing at beach patrons during this sensitive time with the COVID-19 pandemic,” according to the arrest report.

The code enforcement officers told Prater she had to leave the beach and when she refused, they called the police department.

Officers said Prater became upset and spat on the back of one of the code enforcement officers and on the chest of the other.

Prater was booked into the Manatee County jail on an aggravated battery on a code enforcement officer charge. According to jail records, she remains in custody on a $1,500 bond.

This story was originally published June 30, 2020 at 10:01 AM.