Rhonda Comeau says she was trying to protect the servers at Empire Coffee in NelsonB次元官网网址檚 Adventure Hotel when she confronted a man shouting about mask-wearing on Nov. 20.

She said the man, since identified by police as Jeremy Undershute, was wearing a mask but loudly and profanely yelling about the requirement to wear one, calling the servers and customers B次元官网网址渟heep.B次元官网网址�

B次元官网网址淭hese girls are young,B次元官网网址� Comeau said. B次元官网网址淭hey have never been put in a situation like this before. They were scared. And he thought that was OK. And when he tried it with me, it was like, yeah, youB次元官网网址檙e not dealing with a 16 year old now.B次元官网网址�

Comeau, who is the financial controller for the hotel, told him they wouldnB次元官网网址檛 serve him because he was bullying the staff. She told Undershute to leave and he refused.

B次元官网网址淚 said, B次元官网网址榃ell, youB次元官网网址檙e either leaving on your own, or youB次元官网网址檙e leaving by police escort, I really donB次元官网网址檛 care which.B次元官网网址橞次元官网网址�

Undershute then allegedly spat on her before leaving. Comeau followed him until the police apprehended him two blocks away.

Related:

Staff Sgt. Brian Weber of the Nelson City Police says the police have asked the Crown for an assault charge as well as a charge of abusive and belligerent behaviour under the COVID-19 Related Measures Act, but the Crown has not yet approved these charges.

Undershute is already scheduled for a Jan. 19 court appearance for charges of assault, resisting arrest, and causing a disturbance following a similar incident in a different location in downtown Nelson in August.

After the incident at Empire Coffee, ComeauB次元官网网址檚 first concern was to clean herself up.

B次元官网网址淲hen I got into the bathroom, thatB次元官网网址檚 when it kind of hit me what happened,B次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址淎nd thatB次元官网网址檚 when I started getting really ticked off. I was looking forward to see my grandkids, and this guy just spit on me. I didnB次元官网网址檛 know if heB次元官网网址檚 got something. This could ruin Christmas.B次元官网网址�

Then she walked two blocks on an errand and on her way back had to stop and rest because of chest pain and shortness of breath.

B次元官网网址淚 slowly made my way back to the hotel. I got to the back parking lot and the pain started getting worse. I sat down on the bench. And I thought, you know, this isnB次元官网网址檛 a good place to be outside by myself. SomethingB次元官网网址檚 wrong. I walked into [hotel manager Rob LittleB次元官网网址檚] office and he was on his phone. And I just said, B次元官网网址楻ob, call 911.B次元官网网址� I knew I was having a heart attack.B次元官网网址�

She remembers having a heart attack at the hotel B次元官网网址� B次元官网网址淭hatB次元官网网址檚 a pain you never forgetB次元官网网址� B次元官网网址� but after entering the ambulance her memory is spotty. She remembers little about the trip to Kelowna, then nothing until four days later when she was taken out of an induced coma. She came home to Salmo four days after that, on Nov. 28.

Piecing the dayB次元官网网址檚 events together later, Comeau says after the initial heart attack she had three cardiac arrests the same day.

It has not been proven in court that the incident directly caused ComeauB次元官网网址檚 heart attacks.

But she said several of her doctors told her they thought it did, and she said one of them wrote a letter to the police stating this opinion.

Independently of the medical opinion, Comeau is convinced the two are connected.

B次元官网网址淚 know my temperament,B次元官网网址� she said.

She put on a calm demeanor in the midst of the incident because she didnB次元官网网址檛 want to panic in front of the servers, and she resisted telling Undershute what she thought of him.

B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 a professional. IB次元官网网址檓 a manager. But inside, I wasnB次元官网网址檛 calm. I was raging. I could feel all of that raging inside of me when I was talking to him, I had it raging inside me when I had to go into my office with his spit all over me and watch the surveillance footage.B次元官网网址�

Since arriving home sheB次元官网网址檚 been dealing with confusion, limited mobility and pain, and she was taken to Kootenay Boundary Hospital again on Dec. 10 and on Dec. 23 with complications. Her husband has had to stay home and look after her. As of Dec. 28, Comeau said she felt about 60-to-70 per cent recovered.

She has worked for the Adventure Hotel for 12 years, working her way up through various jobs, and she calls the hotel staff her work family. SheB次元官网网址檚 grateful for the companyB次元官网网址檚 response to her situation.

B次元官网网址淩ob told me, B次元官网网址業 donB次元官网网址檛 care what you need. You phone me, you text me. I donB次元官网网址檛 care what it is, youB次元官网网址檙e going to have it.B次元官网网址橞次元官网网址�

bill.metcalfe@nelsonstar.com
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