Coram woman charged with punching officer while in the tub

A Flathead County woman is accused of punching a deputy sheriff in the face during a recent incident in Coram.

Krystal Dawn Shears, 24, is in the county jail on a $10,000 bond, charged with one felony count of assault on a peace officer. She is scheduled to appear in court for an arraignment at 9 a.m. Thursday, Jan. 31.

According to the criminal complaint, two deputies attempted to serve a warrant on Shears from an unrelated incident in Kalispell.

When one of the female deputies knocked on her door, she allegedly answered it clad in a towel. The deputy said she recognized Shears from previous run-ins with law officers. The deputy told Shears to get dressed because there was a warrant for her arrest.

According to the complaint, Shears agreed to get dressed, but instead stepped into the bathroom, dropped her towel, sat down in the bath tub and turned on the water.

The deputy told her once again to get out of the tub and get dressed, but she allegedly refused. When both deputies attempted to lift Shears to her feet, she screamed, resisted their efforts and punched one of the deputies in the face, drawing blood, according to the complaint.

Reporter Scott Shindledecker may be reached at 406-758-4441 or sshindledecker@dailyinterlake.com