LONGMEADOW, MA — A Massachusetts woman accused of weaponizing bees against law enforcement during a 2022 eviction, has been captured in Tennessee after failing to appear for trial.

Rorie Susan Woods, also known as Rebecca Woods, was arrested Thursday evening at a hotel following the issuance of a non-bailable warrant by Springfield District Court earlier in the week, according to the Hampden County Sheriff’s Office.

Her arrest follows a bizarre and widely publicized incident that took place on October 12, 2022, in Longmeadow, where Woods allegedly attempted to halt a court-ordered eviction by unleashing hives of angry bees on Hampden County Sheriff’s deputies and bystanders.

According to a news release from the sheriff’s office, Woods, 55, of Hadley, drove up to the eviction scene at 49 Memery Lane in a blue Nissan Xterra, towing several beehives behind her vehicle. She left a dog in the car and immediately began prying open the hives in an effort to release the bees.

Rorie Susan Woods, left, struggles with a Hampden County Sheriff’s deputy near an open box of bees during a 2022 eviction protest in Longmeadow, Massachusetts. (Photo via Hampden County Sheriff’s Office)

Deputies on site attempted to intervene, but as the bees became agitated and began swarming, officers were forced to pull back. Woods allegedly escalated the situation by smashing the lid of one hive and tipping it over, triggering an aggressive swarm that stung multiple deputies and nearby civilians. Some of those stung were allergic, and one sheriff’s office employee required hospitalization.

According to MassLive, when deputies informed Woods that several of them were allergic to bees, she reportedly responded, “Oh, you’re allergic? Good.”

Woods reportedly donned a professional beekeeper suit during the chaos and carried a tower of bees toward the front door of the home. Authorities say she continued to try and stir the insects into further aggression before she was eventually taken into custody. At the time, she was booked at the Western Massachusetts Regional Women’s Correctional Facility.

Rorie Susan Woods is escorted in handcuffs by two deputies after her arrest in Tennessee. (Photo via Hampden County Sheriff’s Office)

“She put lives in danger as several of the staff on scene are allergic to bees,” said Hampden County Sheriff Nick Cocchi in the original incident report. “We had one staff member go to the hospital and luckily, he was alright, or she would be facing manslaughter charges.” Cocchi emphasized the sheriff’s office’s commitment to conducting evictions humanely, noting that his team offers assistance with housing, employment, and mental health support to those being evicted. “But when you cross the line and put my staff and the public in danger, I promise you will be arrested.”

Woods’ case had already seen several delays before the scheduled trial date on Tuesday in Springfield. Representing herself, she failed to appear in court, prompting the judge to issue the warrant that ultimately led to her arrest in Tennessee.

The charges against her include four counts of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, three counts of assault with a dangerous weapon, and one count of disorderly conduct. Following her arraignment in Tennessee, extradition proceedings will begin to bring her back to Massachusetts to stand trial.

Robert Hoffman, Chief Deputy of the Civil Process Office, expressed disbelief at the events. “Never in all my years… have I seen something like this,” he said. “I’m just thankful no one died because bee allergies are serious.”