Police: Sick suspect coughed on us

A 23-year-old Oregon shoplifter who told deputies he had the coronavirus and intentionally coughed in the face of arresting officers was charged by police with battery, failing to register as a sex offender and burglary.

During his first court appearance Wednesday, Mitchell A. Dante told a Coeur d’Alene judge that police had mistaken him for his twin brother.

Dante interrupted the judge, was unruly and despite telling deputies he was on vacation when he walked out of the Hayden Super 1 with two 30-packs of beer, he said he had a job in Post Falls and could not stay in jail because he needed to go to work.

Dante was formally charged with felony burglary and two felony counts of battery on police, as well as petit theft and lying to police, which are misdemeanors.

Deputies around midnight were called to Super 1 at 240 W. Hayden Ave. and confronted Dante after he walked out of the grocery store toward a waiting green car that sped away, leaving Dante behind holding two suitcases of Keystone Light.

He told deputies he was “sick as (heck),” that he had no money, was couch surfing at the homes of friends and had intentionally walked into the store to steal beer.

Dante refused to cooperate with them, deputies said, and when officers attempted to take him into custody he purposefully coughed on them.

“Dante continued to yell at us and call us ‘faggots,’” according to a report. “When I had my head (near) Dante... (he) leaned over and coughed multiple times on my face.”

Dante began beating his head against the vehicle and deputies got him a safety helmet, according to a report.

He was tested at the jail for COVID-19 and placed in a safety cell.

Deputy prosecutor Melissa McClure on Wednesday asked a Coeur d’Alene magistrate to set bail at $50,000. Dante’s next court appearance will be within 21 days in First District Magistrate Court.