PATRIOT-NEWS (Harrisburg, Pennsylvania) 23 November 06 Snakes to be evidence at woman's hearing (John Beauge)
Shamokin: A woman who was bitten by poisonous snakes she allegedly waved at police officers will get her day in court -- as will the unusual evidence.
Terry L. Jackson, 36, of Shamokin, is to appear for a preliminary hearing before District Judge John Gembic on Dec. 12 on charges of recklessly endangering and disorderly conduct.
Jackson spent about three weeks at Geisinger Medical Center recovering from snake bites she received during an encounter with Shamokin police last month.
While Jackson was in the hospital, the prime evidence -- two western diamondback rattlesnakes, a pigmy rattlesnake and two copperheads, each about 30 inches long -- waited in aquariums in Police Chief John Brown's office until they would be needed in court.
The case began at 4:15 a.m. Oct. 25 when Shamokin police responded to a report of a woman with a knife at Jackson's home in the 400 block of South Market Street. They encountered Jackson holding a 10-inch hunting knife in a threatening manner, the arrest affidavit states.
The officers reported they tried to talk Jackson into putting down the knife but she picked up a snake. Holding a snake in one hand and the knife in the other, she allegedly told the officers, "I dare you come after me now."
Jackson then picked up four other snakes and waved them at the officers, the affidavit states. She was bitten on an arm and her face and officers subdued her with a stun weapon, according to police reports.
"I was in shock," police officer Darwin Tobias III said of the encounter. "It was a very delicate situation. Definitely, you are not trained for that."
Professionals have tended to the reptiles' care and feeding while the snakes have been in the police chief's office.
Clerks who were hesitant about sharing office space with the snakes say they have gotten used to them.
Attempts to reach Jackson for comment were unsuccessful.
Snakes to be evidence at woman's hearing

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