Woman spits on officer while locked up, police say

DADE CITY -- Melinda Diane Lewis already was having a bad night Wednesday, but it got worse.

About 6 p.m., Dade City police officers had arrested Lewis and brought her to the station on charges of driving under the influence, DUI property damage, leaving the scene of a wreck with property damage, driving with a suspended license and refusal to sign a citation.

Officers said she was being verbally abusive. Then came her big mistake, they said. According to reports, she spit on Officer Pete Emerson through the window in her cell.

That tacked on a charge of battery on a law enforcement officer.

Lewis later was taken from Dade City to the county jail in Land O'Lakes. She remained there Thursday in lieu of $7,500 bail.

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