Cop Dies After Suspect Spat In Her Face

A Ukrainian police officer known for her glamorous selfies on social media died from tuberculosis after a suspect spat in her face during an arrest, according to reports from August 2016.

Officer Arina Koltsova, 35, contracted the deadly lung disease after the incident, which occurred on New Year’s Day during celebrations in Kiev, Ukraine. Koltsova was arresting a man who became violent and a struggle broke out. After she subdued him, the suspect spat directly in her face.

Koltsova wiped it off and finished her shift, not realizing the man was carrying an active tuberculosis infection. Tuberculosis is a highly contagious bacterial disease that primarily attacks the lungs and can be transmitted through airborne droplets — including saliva.

Over the following weeks, Koltsova began feeling ill. When she finally went to the hospital, doctors ran tests and confirmed she had contracted tuberculosis. After learning about the New Year’s incident, medical professionals determined that the suspect’s spit was the likely source of infection.

Despite treatment, including chemotherapy commonly used for acute tuberculosis cases, Koltsova’s health continued to decline. The treatment weakened her immune system and caused severe weight loss. Her colleagues reportedly did not realize how seriously ill she had become until she collapsed at work.

Officer Koltsova died on July 25, 2016, and was buried in Kiev two days later. She was 35 years old.

The tragic case drew widespread attention after it was reported internationally, highlighting the hidden dangers that law enforcement officers face even during routine arrests. While officers are trained for physical threats like guns and knives, biological hazards from assaults like spitting are often overlooked.

At the time of reporting, it remained unclear whether the suspect who spat in Koltsova’s face would face additional charges related to her death.

The story sparked renewed conversations about the risks of assaults on police officers and the importance of treating any form of physical contact during arrests as a potential health threat.