BEDFORD — A transient woman was arrested after multiple 911 calls reported her exhibiting erratic and disruptive behavior on the property of a local school.
Shannon R. Rishforth, 48, was taken into custody on November 11 and booked into the Lawrence County Jail on charges of trespass and disorderly conduct.
According to the probable cause affidavit filed by Bedford Police Department Officer Sarah Haluda, officers were called to the area of Playful Pathways on W Street between 1:30 p.m. and 3:50 p.m.
During the initial contact, Officer Haluda first spoke with Rishforth and advised her of the criminal trespass at the school. At the time, Rishforth was described as not being mentally stable. She handed the officer a Playful Pathways radio, claiming people in the trees were “killing babies,” and stated the radio would help find them. The radio was later found to have been taken from an employee’s vehicle.
During the second response, officers were called back after multiple callers reported Rishforth attempting to enter school buses, banging on building windows, screaming at children, and stopping traffic. Officers located her across 5th Street, off school property, and again advised her not to return to the park or school.
Officer Haluda remained in Murray Park after observing Rishforth watching the school from a nearby alley. When Rishforth reentered the park and stepped onto school property, she was taken into custody.
While being placed into the police vehicle, Rishforth was reportedly screaming obscenities and “unhinged statements about killing babies” while parents were picking children up, and she refused commands to lower her voice.
Rishforth was transported to the Lawrence County Jail for housing.
All individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. This article is based on the information provided in the Probable Cause Affidavit and does not represent a final determination of guilt or innocence.
