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Canadian accused of kicking and spitting on Breckenridge, Frisco police pleads guilty to assault

Shawna Barclay Calhoun, 21.
Summit County Sheriff’s Office

Shawna Barclay Calhoun, who was arrested after kicking and spitting on law enforcement officers during an altercation in Breckenridge late last year, pleaded guilty to assault charges in county court on Tuesday morning.

Calhoun, 21, pleaded guilty to a felony charge of second-degree assault for spitting at the officers, along with a misdemeanor charge of third degree assault.

In the early morning of Dec. 11, officers with the Breckenridge Police Department and the Summit County Sheriff’s Office responded to a call on 4 O’Clock Road in Breckenridge, near the ski area, after receiving a call about a woman who ran away from her Uber. The Uber driver told police that the woman, later identified as Calhoun, was lost and dressed inadequately for the winter weather.



The officers made contact with Calhoun near the Snowflake Ski Lift at Breckenridge Ski Resort, according to the arrest affidavit. Officers said that Calhoun seemed inebriated and was having trouble standing, and fell down a snow bank behind the lift. They also noted that she was emotionally distressed and was making threats to harm herself.

The sheriff’s deputy asked Calhoun to come to his patrol vehicle to warm up, where the incident turned violent and confrontational. Calhoun began shouting profanities at the officers, and after slipping to the ground, began kicking both of the officers as they tried to pick her up, according to the affidavit. It was at that point that officers placed Calhoun into handcuffs and took her into custody.



The deputy transported Calhoun to St. Anthony Summit Medical Center in Frisco due to her perceived level of intoxication, where a Frisco officer met the two. Inside the hospital Calhoun again became violent, kicking the Frisco officer and spitting at both of them, hitting one officer in the neck and another in the face.

After being medically cleared, Calhoun was booked into the Summit County Detentions Facility. The Fifth Judicial District Attorney’s Office initially charged Calhoun with five charges, including three counts of misdemeanor assault in the third degree for kicking the officers, and two counts of felony assault in the second degree for spitting on them.

While kicking may seem like a more substantial crime than spitting, the Colorado Revised Statutes provide broad protections for emergency workers to prevent the spread of communicable diseases and hazardous materials, barring individuals from intentionally causing the workers to come into contact with blood, urine, saliva and other bodily fluids. Of note, the officer who’s face was spit on was advised that he was at risk of developing a communicable disease during his workman’s compensation exposure exam due to saliva entering his eyes and nose, according to the affidavit.

During her hearing at the Summit County Justice Center on Tuesday, Calhoun pleaded guilty to felony second-degree assault and received a four year deferred judgment and sentence that includes ordered mental health and alcohol treatment. Calhoun also pleaded guilty to third degree assault, a class one misdemeanor, and will be forced to pay more than $500 in fines. Because Calhoun is a Canadian national, she is ineligible for probation. She’s expected to return to Canada sometime this week.

In addition to Calhoun, there are a number of other ongoing criminal cases in the county stemming from alleged assaults of law enforcement officials. In November, James Morrow pleaded guilty to second-degree assault of a peace officer and resisting arrest after sending a Dillon officer to the hospital. Morrow is scheduled to be sentenced early next week. Nathan Finnegan, who is accused of attacking a Breckenridge officer in July, is set to head to trial in March. Robert Larson is scheduled to head to trial in February for allegedly assaulting a sheriff’s deputy. Earlier this month, Derek Baker was shot in an officer-involved shooting after allegedly attempting to assault a Frisco officer with his car.


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