Warrant Issued for Woman Accused of Releasing Bees on Deputies During Eviction

A warrant has been issued for a Hadley woman who is accused of using beehives to attack law enforcement officers during an eviction nearly three years ago.

Hadley Massachusetts Bees

According to the Hampden County Sheriff’s Department, the unusual incident happened on October 12, 2022, at around 9:15 a.m. Deputies were carrying out a court-ordered eviction on Memory Lane in Longmeadow when 55-year-old Rorie Susan Woods arrived on the scene in a blue Nissan Xterra, towing multiple beehives.

Authorities say Woods left her dog in the car and immediately attempted to open the lids of the beehives. When a deputy tried to stop her, she allegedly made the bees agitated, causing them to swarm the area. She then reportedly smashed a hive lid and tipped one off the trailer, which led to an aggressive attack by the bees.

Officers Stung, One Taken to Hospital

Several sheriff’s deputies and even some nearby onlookers were stung, including officers with known allergies. One officer had to be transported to the hospital for treatment due to the severity of the stings. The sheriff’s department said the deputies were simply trying to carry out their duties when the situation turned dangerous.

Woods Fails to Appear in Court

Woods was expected to appear at Springfield District Court this week for trial related to the incident. However, she failed to show up, prompting the court to issue an arrest warrant.

“The defendant failed to appear for her trial date, as ordered by the court,” a statement from the sheriff’s office read. “While she is presumed innocent until proven guilty, the charges against her are serious. She may have delayed justice, but it will not be denied.”

Woods now faces additional legal trouble for failing to appear in court.

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