It was an incident out of Covid-19’s unwritten playbook, escalating from a simple social-distancing request to a scuffle, a woman’s arrest and felony charges and an injury to a Flagler County Sheriff’s sergeant.
Claudia Avello Munzo, a 51-year-old Palm Coast resident with a clean record locally until this week, was at the Florida Health Care Plans office at 309 Palm Coast Parkway Tuesday morning. She was upset. She wanted to know her 18-year-old son’s test results, according to one sheriff’s report, or speak with a doctor about her son, according to a separate report. The nurse there would not tell her, in keeping with privacy rules. The nurse told her should would have to wait for her son outside, because of precautionary regulations related to coronavirus. The nature of the test in question was not revealed.
Avello Munzo became even more upset and argued with the nurse, according to Avello Munzo’s arrest report–then approached the nurse, allegedly pushed her on the left shoulder, and accused the nurse of not abiding by the 6-foot social distancing guidelines. Then Avello Munzo sat down in the waiting room and refused to leave.
Most, if not all, local health care facilities, clinics and the hospital have adopted new rules because of the virus, among them the common request for patients or customers to wait their turn in their car rather than in waiting rooms, to minimize the chances of exposure or contamination.
After a call to the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office, Sgt. Jon Dopp arrived at the scene and explained to Avello Munzo the reasons why she was being asked to wait outside. (Deputies have been doing a lot of Covid-19 social distancing education for residents, from the beaches to businesses to neighborhoods, with a premium on advice and guidance, not arrest.) Avello Munzo insisted she was following the rules even as she “began to yell at him,” according to the arrest report.
But she then decided to exit the building, “intentionally bumping into my chest as she walked by,” according to Dopp’s report. She then started to record her interaction with Dopp on her cell phone–and stayed within the confines of the building. Dopp, a veteran on the force, told her repeatedly to leave and warned her that if she refused she could face arrest for trespassing. Avello Munzo continued to argue. Dopp moved in to place her under arrest. She tried to pull away. Dopp took her to the ground. She allegedly continued to resist despite the deputy’s orders to stop resisting. She allegedly “began to kick and pull away and dig her fingernails into Sgt. Dopp’s arm and made several attempts to bite him.”
The interaction was an example of the risks law enforcement officers and first responders face when they they have to have physical contact with individuals. Avello Munzo was awaiting test results: Dopp couldn’t know for what, but that sort of uncertainty is behind many interactions between first responders and individuals. In this case, the close contact was very close and it was not short. The physical struggle lasted about a minute, according to the arrest report. A second deputy assisted in finally getting Avello Munzo under control and into a patrol car. Dopp’s report cites lacerations and a sprain right thumb that would need medical treatment at a local clinic.
She complained of pain in her arm, and was taken to AdventHealth Palm Coast, where she was cleared before getting booked in at the county jail on two felony charges: resisting arrest with violence and battery on a law enforcement officer. She was also charged with trespassing, a misdemeanor. All for refusing to wait in her car, a few feet away from the office door.
“New business policies surrounding Covid-19 are in place to keep everyone safe. Please understand the ‘new normal’ we are all living in and don’t let anger get the best of you,” Sheriff Rick Staly said.
Avello Munzo, a resident of Rolling Sands Drive in Palm Coast, was released this afternoon after posting bail on $5,500 bond.
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Concerned Citizen says
While I agree with most of the new procedures I will say this.
I was at a local convienince store Monday getting a fountain drink. Hot and tired from working outside all day and minding my busniess. The store had 6 foot markings on the floor and I was clearly behind mine. An individual with a smart mouth and no authority asked me to back up even further with people behind me. I said “Sir where do you expect me to go? Outside? He then proceded to tell the clerk that if I didn’t back up further he would “handle busniess” and then call the cops. At that point I sat the drink down and left. While he kept yelling Social Distancing “expletive”.
While we have the right to politley ask for more distance or to back up ourselves we don’t have the right to enforce anything. Above all politness and and being kind goes a long way to helping all of us readjust to new guidelines. And I will say that if you feel the need to put your hands on someone because of “social distancing” there are probably larger issues at stake. And as far as I’m concerned I’m not going to let you hurt me because of your percieved authority.
At the end of the day let’s just be nice to each other.
Morgan Monaco says
You are perfectly right, however beware that we have more and more idiots, stupid, arrogant, savages in the area.
Rich says
Not a smart thing to do! I wonder what she was on?
Wow says
Idiot, wasting the police’s time like this. This is what America has become. Selfish, violent, arrogant and stupid.
gary says
you just described our president and most of his followers
The Truth says
Become? I think that describes this country for quite some time
Trailer Bob says
Not all of America. Just the idiots that have learned that there is no longer consequences for stupid behavior. Today everyone has been taught the are “special”, and in much of flagler county, there is no real price to pay for poor behavior by these special little people. I might add that today, the judicial system in our county sentences criminals to extremely lenient sentences. Read some of the mugshot info and you will see that the sentence doesn’t fit the crime. Ridiculous.
Cindy says
This is a perfect example of someone with a Persinality disorder. She thinks she is above the law, is entitled and doesn’t have to follow common sense rules. Whether it is Histrionic, Borderline, Narcissistic or any one or combo of other Personality disorders that is revealed in this type of behavior. There’s no cure and not much in terms of treatment. These people do not seek therapy unless court ordered because they see nothing wrong with their behavior. Sound familiar?
Cheryl says
It’s unfair to the mental health population to take this woman who may very well just have an attitude problem and label. Mental Health disorders that you are describing on the DSM are serious and take a lot of time to properly evaluate people in determining it exists. She sounds more like a toxic mother, overly protective of her son and completely disrespectful to him, professionals and herself.
snapperhead says
Plea deal guaranteed….She pleads guilty…charges get dropped to a misdemeanor and she pays a small fine or community service.
Steve says
In the end it Never pays to mess with the man. Its a lose lose
Really says
The Future of PC. right there. GL
Whathehck? says
This illustrate how dangerous a first responder’s job is. I feel sorry for the cop and for the nurse. How sad that the woman in question was so upset that she couldn’t control herself and put others in danger and to top it her shenanigans didn’t help her son.
Willy Boy says
She asked for it. She got it. Now the judge will expunge her record and apologize, because she was distraught over her adult son. Next time she will feel even more empowered to act like a bullying fool. C’est la Vie!
Palm Coast Citizen says
So much easier to go by the rules!
ASF says
Her son is 18 years old. He is an adult and entitled to his privacy. If he did not sign any release of Information for Mommy Dearest, no one in that clinic could legally break HIPPA regulations and tell her anything. From the descriptions of Mommy Dearest’s behavior, she should have been immediately escorted from the building for everyone’s protection, including her own. I hope the police did a TOX screen on her. It sounds like a Psych eval. might be in order.
Ritchie says
She would probably have needed this size bail had she been a criminal.
The rules are the rules, but she went by a much higher rule. The motherly rule.Ri
Mary Fusco says
Her son is 18 and a grown man. He is NOT 8. When my son was 18, he was on a Navy warship in the Persian Gulf. Imagine if I needed to go with him. LOL. She is just a plain old nut, which Palm Coast seems to attract.
hawkeye says
Amen Sister!
Robert says
It’s about time that that guy got what he deserved. Is just sad that had become from a 51 year old woman.